What a AMAZING way to start off the New Year, dear friends!!!
It’s the launch of a beautiful new book from author Kellie Byrnes, who resides in beautiful Queensland, Australia! So, please join with me in singing…
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:

Here’s a little synopsis from Amazon:
Love is shown in many ways. When we look closely, we see it everyday!
Love is a constant in all of our lives, but how we express that love differs person to person! This warm picture book shows children and adults expressing love in many different ways through words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, quality time, and physical touch.
Reading together at bedtime? That’s quality time.
Giving a friend your cape to wear? That’s a gift.
Saving your friend a seat on the bus? That’s an act of service.
A great big bear hug? That’s touch.
Telling someone, “You’ve really improved!” Those are words of affirmation.
With friendly art, How Do You Love? will warm hearts and open up minds. Young readers will begin to recognize how we each express our love differently―and that’s okay!

And just look at the first page of the book! Inviting, engaging, and beautifully diverse!

And how about this one!
Friends, this is exactly the type of book we want to share with very young children. When I heard that Kellie had another book coming out, I knew I’d want to feature it on my blog. And guess what? She stopped by to chat about the path to publication and some of the challenges she encountered:
KELLIE: How Do You Love? has had the same name all along but I have written MANY different versions of the story, with all sorts of structures and story arcs and styles. It took a while (years!) to find the right way to bring this concept to life for young children, but I hope that readers feel it works nicely now to introduce kids to the idea of expressing and receiving love in multiple ways and can prompt discussions on this valuable topic.

KELLIE: The book has been pushed back a few times due to the shipping delays caused by the global pandemic, but I feel that 2022 is a year when we all need and want to focus on love more than ever, so perhaps those delays were all for the best!

That’s so true, Kellie! These days, we definitely need more books like HOW DO YOU LOVE. I’m so excited to add this book to my picture book collection…and thanks to Kelli and her generous publisher, Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan, there is a giveaway copy up for grabs for one lucky winner – U.S. or Canadian addresses only, please.

To be entered in the giveaway, just leave a comment (maybe share what your favorite way to show love is) on this blog post and spread the word on your social media. But honestly…don’t wait to win a copy – pop over to your favorite indie bookstore and order it! And, after you read the book, remember to leave a review on Amazon, B&N, and/or Goodreads. Also, ask your local library to purchase copies for their shelves.

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of this first week of the New Year! I’ve been participating in Julie Hedlund’s 12 Days for Writers…what a great way to acknowledge the challenges/failures/disappointments of 2021…and then let go of them so that we can move forward into 2022.
I’m also on board for Tara Lazar’s STORYSTORM, a 30-day blog fest of inspiring posts from published authors, illustrators, and other creatives in the kid lit world. It started January 1…and you can sign up till January 7, so don’t delay! There are already over 1600 people registered – there will be prizes at the end of the challenge – and I’ll be participating as one of the bloggers.
HERE’S TO A SAFE, HEALTHY, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!
Congratulations on your lovely new book, Kellie! How exciting. If I win, I will get the book posted to a writer peep in the US or Canada.
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Hi Kaye! Thank you so much for the lovely comments and I’ll have my fingers crossed for you, and your writer friend in North America, for a win! 🙂 I hope you’re doing well. Fingers crossed we get to catch up in person some where, some time this year!
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Kids NEED this book. I’m a retired teacher and saw so many kids over the years who didn’t know how to be a friend or receive friendship (next door to love). CONGRATULATIONS!
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Thank you so much! That is such great news to hear. I hope the book is helpful to many children and their caregivers, plus teachers and librarians.
Thanks again,
Kellie
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Happy Book Birthday on your important book that will inspire kindness. What a wonderful way to start 2022. I can’t wait to read this book and share it with your little people in my life. My favorite way to express love is acts of service. Thank you for writing this book to help children learn all the ways they may express love.
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Thank you so much for that, Hanh. I hope you enjoy the book when you get a chance to read it, and that the children in your life do as well. Thank you for sharing your favorite way to express love, too. 🙂
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Congratulations Kellie! 2022 seems like the perfect time for your book. All the best!
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Thank you very much, Mary. Much appreciated. I hope 2022 has started off well for you.
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Congratulations on your beautiful book! This is such a great way to kick off the new year, instilling love and kindness for future generations. Looking forward to reading it with my kiddos!
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Thank you so much, Lindsay! I hope you and your children enjoy the book. 🙂
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Congratulations on your book. I adore the concept of showing children (and adults) the many ways we can show love. Taking care of my family and friends is my favorite way to show love. Sometimes the smallest act of kindness can make someone feel really and truly loved.
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That’s so great to hear, thanks Shannon. And I agree – we never know how just one small thing, such as even a smile, can change someone’s day. 🙂
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This looks/sounds like a WONDERFUL book! Congratulations, Kellie! Your words encouraged me also, to keep trying to find the right way to bring a concept to life. Well done!
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That’s fantastic to hear, Kim. I’m glad you feel inspired to keep working on your story to get it across the board. Trust me, this one took MANY trials and much error, lol. Thanks for your lovely comments.
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Congrats! I love the title. Best wishes in 2022!
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Thank you very much, and best wishes to you, too!
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❤️What the world needs now is love. Great job of teaching little ones the meaning of love! Well done.❤️
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Thanks Dawn, I appreciate that. And yes, the world could definitely do with more love these days!
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LOVE-ly book, Kellie! I love all of the ways we can show love being included. Perfect for a new year. Congratulations!
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Hah, I see what you did there, Angie! 🙂 Thank you, I’m so glad you like the concept.
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This is the kind of book I would love to read to kids–so many ideas to start conversations and ways for kids to see how they can show love to others, pets, and the environment too. My favorite way to show love is by cooking my family healthy meals every night. I shared on tumblr: https://yesreaderwriterpoetmusician.tumblr.com/post/672472152782553088/via-book-birthday-how-do-you-love-plus
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That’s fantastic, Danielle. Many thanks for sharing the post and I hope you enjoy the book when you get a chance to read it.
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With all the negativity today this book is just what children need to show how to love and grow loved. Congratulations can’t wait to read!
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That’s well said, Meredith, thank you. I hope it fosters more expressions of and understanding of love, and I hope you enjoy the book.
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With all the negativity today, this book is perfect to show children how to give and receive love. Congratulations can’t wait to read!
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One of my favorite ways to show love is to read to my grandchildren 😻
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Thanks for commenting, and I love that expression of love – brilliant!
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A foot rub says I love you
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Hah, yes it does, it does indeed! Good idea, Laurel. 🙂
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I LOVE the sound of this book! And I’ll cook dinner for you that will be okay for your allergies, says I love you.
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Thank you, Marci, I’m so glad you like the idea of the book. That’s a great example of showing love, too. As someone who has to eat gluten-free, I hear you! 🙂
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Congratulations! I can’t wait to share this book! So needed right now!
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Thank you very much, Carmela, I appreciate that! 🙂
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What an amazing book you’ve written, Kellie! It’s inspiring.
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Thanks so much, Lizzie, I really appreciate that! 🙂
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Sometimes showing love takes discipline. It’s not always the fun thing to clean up after your sick kids…
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That’s a very good point, and yes, definitely a selfless way to show love!
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What a great way to start the New Year with LOVE! Thanks Kelli and Vivian for making this opportunity available. Wishing you the best in 2022!
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Thanks so much, Sue, and wishing you all the best for 2022 as well. 🙂
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Congratulations, Kelli! I like to show love by sewing cute outfits for friends’ babies. I would love to share your book with my daughter, who teaches Kdg.!
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Thanks so much, Mary. I hope you and your daughter enjoy the book. I’m sure your friends appreciate the beautiful outfits you create for their little ones, too!
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What a great concept for a book! Can’t wait to read it. Congrats Kellie!
Rebecca Gardyn Levington
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Thanks so much for that, Rebecca! 🙂
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As a K-2 librarian, I’ve been hoping to find books to better explain love in time to share in Feb! ❤️ My favorite way to share love is to send cards in the mail. Happy mail is so rare these days!
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That’s so lovely to hear, thanks Maria! I hope you enjoy the book and find it helpful in your library.
I couldn’t agree more – happy mail is rare indeed and I think sending cards to those you care about is a fabulous idea.
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Love makes the world dance, sing and cry. My favourite way to share love is acts of affirmation and encouragement. What a wonderful drawing you have done. I love the way you have used line and colour in your animal!
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You’re right, Marg, love does make the world dance, sing, and cry, and so much in between. Hopefully you have plenty of dancing and singing and love in your world in 2022 and beyond. 🙂
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My favourite way to show love is to cook a great big meal for my favourite people.
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That’s great. I’m sure everyone appreciates that, too. Thanks for sharing, Linda. 🙂
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