Category Archives: book giveaway

Perfect Picture Book Friday: DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights PLUS Giveaway

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Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. I love when past guests return to Picture Books Help Kids Soar because it usually means they have a brand-new book that just launched…and that’s exactly why the lovely Lydia Lukidis is here today! Hurray! And get ready for a treat because Lydia stopped by to share the story behind the story…AND offer a giveaway. So, stick around and make sure you leave a comment!

DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights

Written by Lydia Lukidis

Illustrated by Sawyer Cloud

Published by Albert Whitman (April 4, 2024)

Ages:4-8

Themes: Women in Science, STEM, diversity

Synopsis: From the Amazon Sales Page:
“A quick but lyrical character study.”—Kirkus Reviews
“The sky proves no limit in Lukidis’s encouraging biography of Black female astronaut Mae Jemison.”—Publishers Weekly

The true story of Dr. Mae Jemison, whose lifelong passions of science and dance prepared her to become a trailblazing astronaut.



Today, Dr. Mae Jemison is famous for being the first Black woman to travel into outer space. But when she was growing up, she felt torn between two passions: science and dance. It seemed like an impossible choice. There had to be some way to make room for both—and Mae found one. As an adult, she combined her gifts of scientific logic and artistic creativity and became an astronaut.

Why I Love This Book:
1. I love finding out about Women in Science and stories I hadn’t heard before!
2. I love the lyrical writing and engaging narrative!
3. I love the vivid art that puts us right up there in space with Mae – and that helps the reader connect with the story.

RELATED ACTIVITIES:
Shiny Galaxy Slime

Photo courtesy: https://www.simpleeverydaymom.com/space-crafts-for-kids/

For detailed instructions and more space crafts: https://www.simpleeverydaymom.com/space-crafts-for-kids/

Are you still with us? Haven’t blasted off into outer space? Good, I’m glad…because author Lydia just landed and she wants to share a bit about the story behind the story.
ME: Welcome, Lydia! Thanks so much for stopping by.

LYDiA:
Thank you, Vivian! I’m so excited to announce the release of my latest nonfiction picture book Dancing through Space: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights illustrated by Sawyer Cloud and published by Albert Whitman.

I wrote this book as a dual narrative that features both of Mae’s passions. As the story unfolds, the two worlds merge, illuminating how art and science are both essential parts of our world.

But I confess, the road to publication was bumpier than usual and fraught with challenges!

Challenge #1: I wrote the first versions in 2013 and started pitched it at various pitch festivals online. One agent was interested but when I showed her my other books, she passed. Looking back, I was a newbie and had a lot to learn.

Challenge #2: I did a million more pitch festivals (and if you’ve done them, you know how stressful they can be). I got hearts but no offers. After querying a slew of agents, I finally signed with my first agent, yay! We went out on sub with this ms but got rejection after rejection, boo.

Challenge #3: I remember one of the critiques calling my writing “regular.” Looking back, those first versions were pretty terrible. I finally realized the problem: the focus was too wide and there was no hook. After several years of research, I finally found the hook; the intersection of dance and science. Editors responded well to it but still, no offers.

Challenge #4: I dove deeper into the hook and the book improved, but I parted ways with that agent. Boo… I bounced back pretty quickly and started a mad querying rush. I signed with a great agent, but she didn’t vibe with this story, so it was shelved.

Challenge #5: Uh oh, after a year, I parted ways with my second agent. I started to reassess my career at that point and fell into an existential slump. No querying or writing for a while.

Challenge #6: I decided to try to pitch the ms again and one editor was really gung-ho about it, it was Nivair H. Gabriel (from Barefoot Books at the time) so I sent her the ms. She loved it and wanted to acquire it, but asked for some revisions and I got to work. But when I tried to send it to Nivair, I found out she had just left Barefoot Books! I sent the revisions to the new editor but she didn’t share Nivair’s excitement and passed.

Challenge #7: In 2020, I signed with my dream agent Miranda Paul. I showed her the revised ms. She loved it, but worried I had already subbed earlier versions too widely and it would be a hard sell. She told me to be patient.

Then, yay, we got an offer from Albert Whitman! After a 10-year journey and 42 revisions, the book is done and released!

I’m grateful.

ME: And we are grateful, too. For this book, dear Lydia…and for you never giving up. Persistence…where have I heard that before? Oh yes…it’s one of my 5 Ps. Thank you so much for sharing your path to publication…an ELEVEN YEAR journey for this beautiful book!!!

Here’s a little bit about Lydia:
Lydia Lukidis is the author of 50+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024), DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023) which was shortlisted for a Silver Birch Express (Forest of Reading) award, THE BROKEN BEES’ NEST(Kane Press, 2019) which was nominated for a Cybils Award, and NO BEARS ALLOWED (Clear Fork Media, 2019). A science enthusiast from a young age, she now incorporates her studies in science and her everlasting curiosity into her books.

Lydia is very involved in the kidlit community. She volunteers as a judge on Rate your Story, co-hosts the annual Fall Writing Frenzy competition, and is an active member of SCBWI, CANSCAIP, 12 x 12, and The Authors Guild. Another passion of hers is fostering a love for children’s literacy through the writing workshops she regularly offers in elementary schools across Quebec with the Culture in the Schools program.
Lydia is represented by Miranda Paul from the Erin Murphy Literary Agency.

To find out more about Lydia and her books and to connect with her:
Web: http://www.lydialukidis.com/
Presale links: https://www.albertwhitman.com/book/dancing-through-space/
Blog: https://lydialukidis.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LydiaLukidis
FB: https://www.facebook.com/LydiaLukidis/

We all know how important it is to help new books become successful…and we can all help: We can:
Buy the book
Review the book
Put it on your Goodreads WANT TO READ SHELF
Tell friends about it (Share on social media)
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection
Please do at least ONE of these things…if you do more, you get extra tickets in the giveaway hat. And make sure you leave a comment because Lydia is happy to give away a free copy of DANCING THROUGH SPACE (US only).

Thank you for spending your precious time with us.
I hope you all have a beautiful weekend.

Happy Book Birthday: WOMBAT AND THE FAMILY TREE Plus Giveaway

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Step right up! Gluten-free cake lovers on the left. Gluten cake lovers on the right. And in the middle, those who prefer to celebrate with a big bowl of ice cream! (and that’s where you’ll find me!). We are celebrating a book birthday for author/illustrator Marietta Apollonio’s new book: WOMBAT AND THE FAMILY TREE.
I ‘met’ Marietta last year when my NCTE panel, headed up by the amazing Kathy Halsey, was working on our presentation. Kathy was already connected with Marietta and asked if she’d be kind enough to look over our slides with her artist’s eye. She did…and WOW! She was so helpful – our slides were GORGEOUS! We were so grateful to her!
Stick around after you enjoy the cake because the kind and talented Marietta stopped by to chat…and she’s offering a FABULOUS GIVEAWAY.

Written and illustrated by Marietta Apollonio – Published by Tommy Nelson Books

Awww…look at that cover! Wombats are so adorable! Something tells me that this wombat loves to paint. And before we chat with Marietta, here’s a little bit about the story from the Amazon sales page.

Spark curiosity in children about family history, genealogy, and their place within that legacy as Wombat’s family tree project grows into an exploration of his relatives’ wisdom as well as what talent he can add to his community.

Wombat’s family tree assignment turns sour when he realizes that every ancestor has a special something they are good at–everyone except him. He tries all the talents he’s learned about from his family members, from music to carving to cooking, but nothing fits. Then, with a nudge to try again, the family tree branches out to grow into Wombat’s very own something.

Wombat and the Family Tree by Marietta Apollonio is for children aged 4 to 8 and features

  • a heartfelt and fun exploration of what a family tree is while finding a sense of self within your heritage,
  • a sweet and energetic main character who wants to do his best,
  • a supportive family who encourages Wombat to keep trying despite disappointment,
  • whimsical and nostalgic illustrations that enrich the story with delightful details,
  • a note from the author about her own adventures in genealogy, and
  • a blank family tree for children to fill in that allows room for a variety of family structures and caregiving situations.

Join Wombat for an adventure in self-discovery as he answers these questions: Where do I come from? What can I learn from people who have come before me? What are my special skills that I can contribute to my family and community?

ME: WELCOME, Marietta. Thank you so much for stopping by. We all love to hear about challenges on the path to pblication…and also what inspired someone.

MARIETTA: Thank you so much, Vivian. It’s a joy to be here on Picture Books Help Kids Soar.
The most challenging moment during my path to publication was a point when I doubted myself and what I was doing. And wanted to quit. I think a lot of people struggle with self doubt. But if we’re lucky, we have people in our lives that help to propel us forward, to help you quell the intrusive thoughts. Who supports you when you need a break, when things move quickly, through frustration, excitement, and joy. They celebrate the wins and help you through the losses. For me that was and still is the Saucy Supremes, a critique group of some very talented women, who were giving of their knowledge, time, and of support when things were hard in life and dreams. 

Book Inspiration:
The flicker of an idea for Wombat and the Family Tree came before I had an agent and my first published book. At a writing workshop held by the very talented duo, Anika Denise and Chris Denise, we were asked to jot down a list of things that sparked interest for us. Included in my list amongst tiny glass ink jars and dragons, were these two separate items: Wombats (they’re poop is shaped like cubes) and vintage portraits (the kind you find in a basket at thrift or antique shops). We were asked to combine two items from the list. Vintage portraits of wombats. I went home that day and drew one. The outline for the story included a wombat named Wombat, vintage portraits, and included genealogy, which has been an interest of mine for a long time, as I continue connecting the branches of my family’s tree. I particularly like this description from the publisher, TommyNelson Books: 

Join Wombat for an adventure in self-discovery as he answers these questions: Where do I come from? What can I learn from people who have come before me? What are my special skills that I can contribute to my family and community?

Yes, we definitely want to join Wombat!
And here’s a little bit about Marietta and how you can connect with her and learn more about her books:
Marietta Apollonio is the author-illustrator of Jack The Library Cat (Albert Whitman 2023) and Wombat And The Family Tree (Tommy Nelson Books/HarperCollins 2024). Her stories focus on characters who explore their curiosity and are looking for something—a home, acceptance, growth, their place within a family or community, magic. In creating an atmosphere inclusive of diverse characters, her illustrations use traditional materials and digital, with texture, patterns, and vibrant saturated moments pulling readers into universal experiences. Marietta received her BFA in illustration from Lesley University College of Art and Design. She spends her professional time doing what she loves: illustrating and writing for picture books, working with a weekly writers’ group, and mentoring. She is a member of SCBWI, the Boston Authors Club, and the PB23BUNCH. Marietta is a recipient of the 2019 SCBWI Memorial Scholarship for Illustrations, a 2022 PB Rising Stars Mentor, a 2023 PBParty Judge and a 2022 and 2023 mentor with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency’s Big Sur Children’s Writers Workshop. She is represented by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

Social Media:
X/Instagram/TikTok/Threads: mar_illustrates
Bluesky: mariettaa.bsky.social
mariettaapollonio.com

And Marietta says: I love supporting my local indie bookshop, https://www.silverunicornbooks.com . Happy to have folks directed to them for purchasing, but also anywhere they buy their books. 

Please remember, dear friends, we can help books become successful when we:
Buy them
Review them
Put them on our Goodreads Want to Read Shelf
Tell friends about them
Ask our local library to purchase copies for their collection

And don’t forget to leave a comment and share on your social media for a chance to win a signed copy of WOMBAT AND THE FAMILY TREE plus some book swag.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Cover Reveal: GRACE LEE BOGGS: GARDENS OF HOPE Plus Giveaway

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When we look around the world, we see lots of sadness and pain. But when we look around the world of picture books, we see…
HOPE!!!

Yesterday we celebrated the book birthday for A FLICKER OF HOPE, written by Cynthia Harmony. And today, we are revealing the beautiful cover of GRACE LEE BOGGS: GARDENS OF HOPE, written by Songju Ma Daemicke and illustrated by Lin.

What do I see in this vibrant cover? Child agency! Diversity! Intergenerational interaction! Healthy plants growing! The hope and promise of the future!

Here’s a little bit about the book from the Amazon sales page:
Grace Lee Boggs brought gardens to inner cities and planted seeds of hope and activism in the minds of young people.

When Grace Lee Boggs was eight years old, her teacher gave her a copy of The Secret Garden. As a Chinese-American who had experienced prejudice, Grace wanted to grow a garden of her own that would help people heal from the injustice in society. Grace dedicated her life to fighting for civil, environmental, labor, and women’s rights. In 1992, she and her husband founded Detroit Summer, a multicultural and intergenerational youth program that inspired kids to become leaders in their community. Together with these “solutionaries,” Grace finally created the garden she dreamed about, one that continues to inspire people to make the world a better place for everyone.

I’m so happy that Songju stopped by to chat with us and share why she wrote this story::

SONGJU: In the summer of 2020, I first read the name Grace Lee Boggs from the author’s notes of a children’s book, Leave It to Abigail!: The Revolutionary Life of Abigail Adams,  by Barb Rosenstock. Grace Lee Boggs was the only Chinese American mentioned. I looked her up on the internet and was immediately drawn to her. Grace, a thinker, philosopher, and a tireless social activist, went beyond class and racial boundaries, devoting her life to fight for equality. She planted many seeds for change throughout her life. These seeds continue to sprout today, growing the world into a more just place. It’s my honor to tell her story and hopefully inspire young people to continue Grace’s legacy and her fight for a better world.

Here’s a little bit about Songju:
SONGJU MA DAEMICKE, a former software engineer with Motorola, is an award-winning Chinese-American children’s book author. Her book, Tu Youyou’s Discovery – Finding a Cure for Malaria, is a finalist for the 2023 SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books; Cao Chong Weighs an Elephant was a Best STEM book, among many other honors. Her first board book, Our World: China received a starred review from the School Library Journal. When she is not writing, she loves attending to her garden, hiking, and shooting her next special photograph. 
You can find out more about Songju here: www.songjumadaemicke.com
Twitter: @SongjuDaemicke
Instagram: @SongjuDaemicke
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/songju.daemicke

And here’s a little bit about the Illustrator:
Lin graduated from Hengyang Normal University with a degree in Environmental Art Design. She is an illustrator and painter working on children’s books, magazines, and other publications. She lives and works in Pingxiang City, China.

Dear friends, we can help important books like this one become a success. How will you help GRACE LEE BOGGS: GARDENS OF HOPE become a success?

You can add Grace Lee Boggs: Gardens of Hope to your Goodreads Want-To-Read list:  https://bit.ly/49wEnz4
You can Pre-order:
Bookshop:   https://bit.ly/3SNq5mm
Amazon:      https://bit.ly/3TcR7EZ
Barnes & Noble:  https://bit.ly/49s4S8M

Please make sure you leave a comment and share the post widely to be entered in the Giveaway:  One winner will receive a copy of Grace Lee Boggs: Gardens of Hope. U.S. address required for book mailing.

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week…we are counting down the days till #50PreciousWords!!! Are you ready???