Perfect Picture Book Friday: LADYBUG LAUNCH: Inspired by a True Story of Chinitas in Space PLUS Giveaway

Posted on April 19, 2024 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. Our feature today is from author Meilissa Trempe – you may remember that she was one of last year’s #50PreciousWords top winners. And it’s the type of picture book I really enjoy – based on true events. Get ready for a fun post – Melissa shares some great writerly advice – and she is offering a fabulous giveaway – winner’s choice of a Picture Book Manuscript Critique or a copy of the book. Please make sure you leave a comment for a chance – and share the post wherever you can.

LADYBUG LAUNCH: Inspired by a True Story of Chinitas in Space

Written by Melissa Trempe and Dr. Natalia Ojeda

Illustrated by Manuela Montoya

Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon and Schuster)

Ages: 4-8

Themes: STEM, perseverance, science, space, girl-power, ladybugs

Synopsis from Amazon:
Based on a true story, this out-of-this-world picture book follows the exciting scientific journey of a chica and a chinita with sky-high aspirations—perfect for fans of Mae Among the Stars and What Miss Mitchell Saw.

Natalia is a chica, an ambitious girl with dreams of becoming a scientist. Luna is a chinita, an adventurous ladybug that dreams of visiting the stars. But neither dream is easy to reach. Ladybugs are meant to munch on garden pests. And no one from Natalia’s family has ever been to college. Still, both Natalia and Luna want más.

Then Natalia’s all-girl class designs an experiment. If astronauts want to live in outer space, they’ll need to grow food. Could chinitas go along to keep the pests away? The girls are eager to find out, and Luna is hungry to help. If their theory is correct, it’s a project worthy of NASA itself—and the stuff all dreams are made of.

This inspiring picture book is based on the real story of Chilean high school girls who convinced NASA to send ladybugs to space!

Why I Love This Book:
1. I love books based on true events that can inspire young people to follow their dreams!
2. Fabulous text that captures our interest with a fascinating STEM story!
3. Bold illustrations that pop off the page and rocket us through the book with exciting action!

Here’s a little bit about author Melissa Trempe and how you can connect with her:
Melissa Trempe is a picture book author of fiction and nonfiction in the Philadelphia area. As a former educator, she loves connecting with readers during school visits. Melissa provides a critique service for fellow authors and is represented by Amy Nielsen at The Purcell Agency. When she isn’t working, she loves reading with her kids, camping, skiing, playing with her dog, and eating just about any flavor of ice cream.

Learn more about her and connect by going to her website at www.melissatrempe.com.

Co-author Natalia Ojeda’s Bio:
Natalia Ojeda grew up in a simple home in the southernmost country of the world: Chile. Her family had few resources, yet her faith, determination, and experience in the ladybug project helped her to overcome the odds and achieve her dream of becoming a doctor. She is a doctor in the Palliative Care Unit of San Juan de Dios Hospital in Santiago, Chile. As a mother of four girls, she wants to share her story of strength and hope with children around the world.

Here’s a bit of writing advice from Melissa, based on her experience publishing Ladybug Launch.

Always be open to feedback, and don’t resist trying a different angle. Here’s why:

When I stumbled on the fact that ladybugs had traveled to space with NASA, I knew that was a picture book begging to be told. My first draft was a funny and inspirational story about a little ladybug who didn’t want to be ladylike. She wanted to be an engineer, build a spaceship, and rocket to the moon. I loved it! However, when I shared it with critique partners, I heard one piece of feedback over and over: Your back matter about the Chilean girls who convinced NASA to take ladybugs to space is fascinating! Why don’t you tell THAT story?

At first, I resisted. I’m a fiction writer. In fact, I’m a humorous fiction writer, and I don’t “do” nonfiction or even fiction based on true events. Yet finally, I relented. I tried a genre I had never written, and it became my debut picture book! While Ladybug Launch is not nonfiction, it’s closer to nonfiction than anything I had ever written. And now, I am writing nonfiction and loving it!

It’s been such an amazing experience collaborating with Natalia, my co-author. She is truly an inspiration, and I’m so happy to be working together to tell this story!

So, my advice to you is listen to the universe, stretch yourself to try things outside your comfort zone, and KEEP WRITING!

RELATED ACTIVITIES:

No-bake Recipe for Ladybug Cookies

You and your kids will love making these adorable, no-bake ladybug cookies together!https://kidsactivityzone.com/ladybug-oreos

Feeling crafty? Here are 10 ladybug craft ideas!

10 Lovable Ladybug Crafts perfect for little Kids to make!

Photo courtesy: Artsy Craftsy Mom

How can we help books become a success, you ask? We can:

Buy them
Review them
Tell friends about them (Please share this post on your social media.)
Ask our local library to purchase copies for their collection.
Follow the creator:

Website: http://www.melissatrempe.com
X/Twitter: @melissa_trempe
Instagram: @melissatrempe.author
Facebook: @melissaluerytrempe

Melissa is also offering a giveaway of a copy of Ladybug Launch or a picture book critique. Please make sure you leave a comment – what did you dream of becoming when you were little?

Extra bonus! Order Ladybug Launch and attend Melissa’s revision webinar for FREE in May. Email her a snapshot of your receipt at melissatrempebooks@gmail.com.

Thank you so much, Melissa, for your insights, cookie recipe, craft ideas, giveaway…and for writing such a fabulous book!
And thank you, friends, for spending your precious time with us.
The #50PreciousWords prize distribution continues…if you are waiting to be contacted by me, please be patient – this is a long process – as of Thursday evening, we are up to Winner #18.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

#KIDLIT CLUBHOUSE: Will Write for Cookies Plus Giveaway

Posted on January 13, 2024 by viviankirkfield

WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

FOR WRITERS, ILLUSTRATORS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS,
AND BOOK LOVERS EVERYWHERE

TODAY’S GUESTS

WOW! What a powerhouse group from #teamKidLitClubhouse! I’m in awe of their combined experiences and expertise – and I’m thrilled to have the chance to introduce them and their 2024 books! 2024 is definitely going to be a fabulous year for children’s literature! I know you are excited to find out more about our guests – and please stick around through the entire post because there is a GIVEAWAY – a chance to have your manuscript critiqued by TWO of these fabulous authors…and you’ll need to leave a comment at the end.

Here’s a little bit about each of them before we get to the questions:
Brentom Jackson is a psychotherapist that writes about the universal lessons within Black American culture. His work not only reflects his extensive background in theatre and performance poetry but also his hope for a future where every child can see themselves in the pages of a book. Brentom lives in Texas with his wife and son. Together they enjoy park walking, people watching, piano playing, and traveling to visit the interesting places they read about in books.
https://www.instagram.com/brentomjackson/
https://www.facebook.com/brentomjackson
https://twitter.com/BrentomJackson

Kelly Zhang is a Canadian children’s writer and Chinese/English literary translator. She writes heartfelt stories drawn from her heritage culture & lived experiences, hoping to inspire readers to stay curious about the world and to connect with peoples and places beyond their familiar ones. Kelly’s PB debut TAKE ME TO LAOLAO, a Chinese mythology-inspired lyrical tale, is forthcoming in Jan 2024 with Quill Tree/HC. Kelly is a member of the SCBWI, a freelance translator for The New York Times for Kids, and a contributor to the WorldKidLit Blog. In her spare time, she makes spicy foods and tries to keep both her child and dog out of trouble.
https://www.instagram.com/kellyzhang_yl
https://twitter.com/KellyZhang_YL

Maria Marianayagam is a Tamil Sri Lankan-Canadian children’s book author. She was born in India and grew up in Nigeria and four provinces across Canada. Maria is a former chemical engineer who fell in love with children’s books (again!) after becoming an Amma (mom). Maria enjoys writing lyrical picture books centered on STEM, faith, and South Asian culture, as well as high concept middle-grade grounded in culture. The first two installments of her debut board book series, BABY HOPE and BABY COURAGE (WorthyKids/Hachette), and her debut picture book THE AMAZING POWER OF GIRLS (Sourcebooks eXplore) release in 2024. When Maria is not writing, she can be found traveling the world, devouring books, and spending time with her wonderful family. She resides in Alberta, Canada, with her husband and two daughters.
https://www.instagram.com/msmarianayagam/

www.facebook.com/maria.s.marianayagam
https://twitter.com/MSMarianayagam

Dazzle Ng is a marketer by trade, a writer by passion, a mother by heart. After graduating with honors from Ateneo de Manila University, she worked for global brands like Unilever and Havaianas. In the media industry, she was the associate publisher/deputy editor of a local magazine; and later on, held regional content and PR positions at theAsianparent, the largest parenting community in Southeast Asia.

As an author, Dazzle is represented by Lisa Amstutz of Storm Literary. Her upcoming picture books are: When an Elephant Hears NO (PSK, 2024) and When a Rhino Has to Wait (PSK, 2025). An active member of the writing community, she is part of terrific networks such as 12X12 and SCBWI, along with a number of critique and support groups.

https://www.instagram.com/dazzleng.books/
https://www.facebook.com/dazzle.ng.3/
https://twitter.com/dazzleng

More WOWs from me! And yippee…Dazzle is a Storm Literary Agency sister of mine!
We are all ready to learn more about these fabulous guests, so here goes!
ME: Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?

KZ: ZHENG Yuanjie (MG author), ZHANG Leping (comic artist)
DN: Shel Silverstein, Roald Dahl
BJ: Ashley Bryan and John Steptoe
MM: Hergé and Robert Munsch

ME: What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started writing?

KZ: Every step on the journey to publication takes time: writing and revising a manuscript, querying, getting an agent, revising again, going on sub, signing a contract, doing more revisions… It will be a long time before you see your book out in the world. So you have to learn to be patient, and find ways to cope with your anxiety and imposter syndrome in the process. Definitely not easy!

DN: Not to query too early! I wish I’d had the courage to seek out critique partners and join things like pitch contests and writing communities before I deemed my work submission-ready.

BJ: Advice given to me by Kevin Johnson, author of “Cape,” “Focus on the two C’s craft and community, and the rest will come.” Make becoming a better writer and a positive literary citizen your driving value. This is something you can continue to work on with the help of or in spite of the subjective world of publishing .

MM: I was so focused on writing an interesting story at the beginning that I didn’t think too much about the importance of craft–word choice, rhythm, rhetorical devices, etc. and how those could be used to elevate a manuscript to the next level. I wish I worked on my craft sooner.

ME: Where do you like to write – inside, outside, special room, laptop, pen and paper?

KZ: It really depends on the project. Most of the time, I use a note app on my phone to collect ideas during moments of inspiration, then flesh them out on my computer. But some projects require pen and paper–such as m aking a dummy for a picture book idea to sort out the pacing and page turns.

DN: Wherever it’s quiet (my thoughts are noisy enough)!

BJ: I like to write in my office on a laptop. However, I enjoy revising in hotel rooms. I wait until I have at least two or three manuscripts to work on and book a room (with loyalty points) in a neighboring city. The change of scenery and surroundings help me think differently about the stories.

MM: Laptop at my dining table in the middle of the chaos of my kids playing and laughing! There’s just something about it.

ME: When do you write – early morning, late in the day, middle of the night, on schedule, as the muse strikes?

KZ: I used to be a night owl and wrote mostly at night. After becoming a parent, I felt too exhausted to write at the end of the day, so now I write early in the morning before the family is up.

DN: I like to write in the morning, but “when the muse strikes” has produced my best drafts.

BJ: I do stream-of-consciousness writing exercises Monday through Friday at 5:30 am and 9:30 pm for consistency. But the muse usually delivers the creative stuff randomly between 12 and 2 pm.

MM: I write when I have someone around to watch my kids! 🙂

ME: Why do you write for children?

KZ: Children are so curious, perceptive, and open-minded. They deserve to know the diversity of cultures and experiences in the world in which they live, and they deserve to see their beautiful and unique selves reflected in the books they read.

DN: They are the best people on this planet. Their curiosity knows no bounds and their hearts have room to love any story, culture, idea, character—even creature!—they encounter.

BJ: Books and libraries changed the trajectory of my life as a child. I write to pay back that debt.

MM: Children are simply the best–they view the world with open hearts and minds. They approach things with awe and excitement, which is so amazing to be around. And they’re sponges, absorbing information about life, culture, facts, science, anything–they’re the perfect audience to share stories with!

ME: Also, if you have any thoughts or advice for aspiring writers, please share. As well as anything else you want to talk about that parents, educators, writers, librarians might want to hear.

KZ: Write from your heart; speak your truth. Do not doubt the value of your story and your unique voice. It will find the reader it needs to reach.

DN: For aspiring kid lit writers: Don’t take the subjectivity of this industry personally. The right
manuscript has to land on the right editor’s/agent’s desk (a.k.a. inbox) at the right time. And that time will come, as long as you keep nurturing both your passion and skills.

BJ: Children spend most of their time learning and playing. As a writer for children you must create opportunities in your life to do the same.

MM: For aspiring kid lit writers: Read tons of picture books (and beyond). Analyze them. Note the use of structure and word choice. Experiment with your own writing. Reading analytically will develop you as a writer far more than anything else.
One of my favorite quotes: “You can only write as well as you read.” ― Max Hawthorne

WE ARE SO VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR AUTHENTC AND HEARTFELT RESPONSES.
Truly, I know that many heads were nodding as you all answered the questions…and you’ve definitely inspired us to believe in ourselves and in the path we’ve chosen as writers for children.

And our fabulous guests are also sharing a very special recipe!
“When I was a lonely, scared and scarred eight year old, Mrs. Bertha Flowers, a lean, Black teacher invited me to her house and made tea cakes.” Maya Angelou, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
In honor of Maya Angelou, here is a fabulous recipe for TEXAS TEA CAKE COOKIES

Texas Tea Cake Cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
Optional: Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl, stir together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the egg and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture, beating until well combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms. Fold pecans into the dough at this stage.
Roll the dough into small balls (about 1 inch in diameter) and place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each cookie.
Flatten each ball slightly with the bottom of a glass or the palm of your hand to create a disc shape.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are lightly golden.
Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once cooled, you can dust the cookies with powdered sugar if desired.
These tea cake cookies are wonderfully buttery and perfect for pairing with a cup of tea or coffee. Feel free to customize them by adding citrus zest, cinnamon, or other flavorings.

AND THERE IS MORE, DEAR FRIENDS…A GIVEAWAY!

GIVEAWAY
1 winner, 2 critiques! 2 of the KidLit Clubhouse members in this post will critique the winner’s PB manuscript (fiction, <1000 words)

What a generous giveaway! And dear readers, when you are finished clapping and the applause dies down, please think about how you can support these books. We can:
Buy them
Review them
Put them on your Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf
Tell friends about them (that’s an easy one…just share the post on your social media)
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection

I hope you all have a beautiful weekend. I’m continuing to reach out to agents and editors and authors and illustrators as I collect prizes for #50PreciousWords. So far, the response has been amazingly positive!!

CHRISTY MIHALY AND DIANA MURRAY: Will Write for Cookies and Golden Books Plus Giveaway

Posted on January 6, 2024 by viviankirkfield

WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES

INSIGHT – INFORMATION – INSPIRATION

FOR WRITERS, ILLUSTRATORS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS,
AND BOOK LOVERS EVERYWHERE

TODAY’S GUESTS

Double the pleasure and double the fun – that’s what happens when TWO kid-lit friends have brand new GOLDEN BOOKS launching! I’ve know Christy Mihaly and Diana Murray for a LONG time…and when I heard they both had GOLDEN BOOKS coming out, I knew I’d want ask them to visit Picture Books Help Kds Soar.

Remember those Golden Books, dear friends? I still have a few of the originals that sat on the little bookshelf my sister and I had in our room. And I can’t wait to chat with Christy and Diana about how their books came to be. Plus, because I’m such a fan of both of these authors PLUS Golden Books PLUS the people they showcased, there will be TWO lucky giveaway winners…just let us know in the comments which Golden Book you would prefer and, if you are the lucky winner, I’ll send it right out to you.
But first, here’s a little bit about our guests:

Christy Mihaly is an award-winning children’s author, former lawyer, environmentalist, and poet who has published more than 35 titles on topics from hayfields to free speech to food. Recently, she enjoyed a little change of pace, writing a Little Golden Book Biography of comedian/actor/producer/director Mel Brooks (Jan. 2, 2024).

Christy has written many books about civics and government, including the picture books Free for You and Me: What Our First Amendment Means and The Supreme Court and Us (Albert Whitman 2020, 2022). She has a picture book about Congress coming out later in 2024. Her 2021 Barefoot Books WATER: A Deep Dive of Discovery, received a Kirkus star and Nautilus Book Awards Gold Medal. Her other picture books include Hey, Hey, Hay!, a mother-daughter farming book(Holiday House, 2018) and Patience, Patches!, in which a dog learns to deal with the addition of a new baby to the family(Dial, 2022).

She enjoys school visits and running poetry workshops and lives in Vermont, where she enjoys walking in the woods and playing cello (though not simultaneously). Christy (like Diana) is represented by Erzsi Deak of Hen&ink Literary Studio.

DIANA MURRAY is the author of over twenty five children’s books, including Firehouse Rainbow, Pizza Pig, Love Stinks!, the bestselling Unicorn Day series, and Jr. Library Guild Selections like Goodnight, Veggies and City Shapes.

Diana is a first-generation immigrant who grew up in New York City. She still lives nearby with her husband, two daughters, and a dog who loves trips to the beach. http://www.dianamurray.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/diana.murray.718
Instagram: @dianaMurrayAuthor
Twitter/X: @dianaMWrites

ME: Welcome, dear friends! I’m so excited you both stopped by to visit and chat with us. I’ve featured some of your earlier books years ago – it’s wonderful to have you back! So, let’s get started because everyone’s here.
Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?

CHRISTY: As a kid, I fell in love with specific books and didn’t pay much attention to the creators behind them. Before I could actually read, I had a favorite picture book: Do Baby Bears Sit in Chairs? by Ethel and Leonard Kessler. I had that thing memorized – and insisted on “reading” it to whoever was around.

That’s little Christy ‘reading to her Grammy

Later in life, I loved and re-read Charlotte’s Web, Harriet the Spy, A Wrinkle in Time and The Secret Garden. I think one reason I read a lot of middle grade and YA today (besides that it’s “my job”) is I crave that feeling of possibility that comes with being a young reader and just sinking into a good book.

DIANA: I didn’t read many picture books as a child, but I do distinctly remember reading some Little Golden Books. I think one of them was The Tawny Scrawny Lion. The first author I remember loving is Lucy Maud Montgomery, after I read Anne of Green Gables.

ME: What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started writing?

CHRISTY: I wish I’d known two things: First, writing is a journey rather than a destination. There are so many stepping stones and milestones along the way, and I wish someone had told me to celebrate each one (while surviving all the rejections and disappointments); and second, it’s so important to find others in the amazing writing community to celebrate these things with – and to lift one another up.

DIANA: I wish I hadn’t spent so much time on the very first story I ever wrote. I should have just put it aside, accepted that it wasn’t ready to be published, and kept on writing other stories. But I guess trying to get that story right was just part of the learning process.

ME: Where do you like to write – inside, outside, special room, laptop, pen and paper?

CHRISTY: Laptop. My handwriting is atrocious and I hate it when I cannot read something that I scribbled. I move around, depending on the weather, the light, and my mood. In winter, I keep the woodstove burning so I set up in the dining room near the stove. In the summer I move out to the barn. I can’t write outside – too many distractions.

DIANA: I always use my laptop and I often sit on the couch or outside on the patio. But it’s difficult to get comfortable and I have chronic pain in my neck and elbows. So I try to prop up various pillows and beanbags to get myself at the right angle or use plastic boxes and other items to get my computer at the right height. It’s a little comical. My family is used to my quirky ways.

ME: When do you write – early morning, late in the day, middle of the night, on schedule, as the muse strikes?

CHRISTY: I’m trying to make a living at this writing gig, so I write as often for as long as I can. When I have a looming assignment or deadline, I tend to spend most of my waking hours writing. I’ve learned that long days cause back injuries – so, now I set a timer to remind me to take breaks to get up and move around. When I’m “between jobs,” it’s a little harder to keep the B in the C. Those times, I schedule “brainstorming time” or “revising time” in my calendar, to make sure I sit down and get at least some words on the page.

DIANA: All day long, basically. Sometimes I jot things down when I’m in line at the grocery store or I scribble things in the middle of the night. This is my full-time job and my kids are older so I’m able to devote a lot of time to it. Writing is my favorite thing to do. I rarely take breaks, even when I’m on vacation. Why would I? I love it! It’s important to remember, though, that writing doesn’t always look like writing. Sometimes it involves just staring into space and thinking.

ME: Why do you write for children?

CHRISTY: I love doing it, and I keep having new ideas! I’m drawn to nonfiction, and I’ve got a particular passion for writing about civics and government for young people. I believe our best hope for the future is raising a generation of people who love to read. My wish is that by giving kids books that are engaging and fun, we can spark their love of learning, foster the critical thinking skills that this generation is going to need, and encourage kids to stand up for what’s right.

Christy at a school visit in New Hampshire

DIANA: When my first daughter was born (she’s 18 now), we were constantly reading together. I quickly fell in love with the genre of picture books. They combine so many of my favorite things: art, wordplay, philosophy, humor. And the fact that they’re so short, makes them particularly impactful. But more than that, I fell in love with the experience of reading together. Reading together, with your child on your lap, is just so special and wonderful. It makes me happy that I still get to be part of that in a way.

Celebrating Unicorn Day at the Story Shop Bookstore in Georgia

ME: Also, if you have any thoughts or advice for aspiring writers, please share. As well as anything else you want to talk about that parents, educators, writers, librarians might want to hear.

CHRISTY: Here’s something to try if you’re stuck: write a poem. As Diana knows, I like to experiment with different poetic structures. It’s like working a word puzzle, but instead of earning a Queen Bee crown, you end up with a completed poem – tada! Lately I’ve had fun with Fibonacci poems. Other forms I’ve enjoyed are reversos, double dactyls, roundels, cinquains, and golden shovels. I’d say sonnets, but I’ve only completed one of those …

DIANA: My advice to writers is to keep writing and don’t get discouraged by rejections. Every time you revise or write something new, you learn. And even if you don’t publish a particular story, aspects of that story might creep into something else. So nothing is ever wasted. Just keep writing.

ME: Wow! I loved getting to know more about both of you. But we aren’t done yet! You’ve brought a great recipe that combines a bit of both of the main characters in your upcoming Golden Books…Mel Brooks loves healthy eating and is a huge fan of Raisin Bran…and the raisins? They are from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s home state, California.

CHRISTY: In a 2023 interview, the 96-year-old icon shared his secrets to longevity, including: “Eat Raisin Bran.” https://www.distractify.com/p/mel-brooks-health-update.

So, how about this Betty Crocker recipe for peanut butter Raisin Bran cookies? https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/peanut-butter-raisin-bran-cookies/ab5f81e2-c49d-4e85-9607-c3e1aa84ac54

Hahaha…I’m also a fan of raisin bran and peanut butter…these look amazing!!
Thank you to both of our guests…their books are available at all indie book stores and at major retailers like Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Plus, their NEW Golden Books JUST launched, so please help them be successful by:
Buying them
Reviewing them
Put them on your Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf
Tell friends about them (sharing the post on social media really helps)
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection.

Local independent bookstores are wonderful to partner with – that way you can offer signed copies of your books. Here’s a list of Christy’s that are available through her favorite bookstore:

You’re welcome to buy my books anywhere you find them … but if you’d like me to sign and personalize your copy, you can order online through Montpelier’s Bear Pond Books, my local indie. https://www.bearpondbooks.com/. ***Just scroll to the end of the checkout page to specify in the special instructions/comment box how you’d like the book signed, and I’ll stop by and sign it before they send it out to you.***
Specific picture book links:
Mel Brooks: A Little Golden Book Biography: https://www.bearpondbooks.com/book/9780593648391.
Barefoot Books WATER: A Deep Dive of Discovery: https://www.bearpondbooks.com/book/9781646862801
Patience, Patches!: https://www.bearpondbooks.com/book/9780593108291
The Supreme Court and Us: https://www.bearpondbooks.com/book/9780807576649
Free for You and Me: What Our First Amendment Means: https://www.bearpondbooks.com/book/9780807524411.
Hey, Hey, Hay! (A Tale of Bales and the Machines That Make Them): https://www.bearpondbooks.com/book/9780823436668.

Please remember to leave a comment and let us know which Golden Book you’d like to get if you are one of the lucky winners.
And come back on MONDAY when we have a very special COVER REVEAL of a book written by one of my #PBChat Mentees – it was the manuscript I feel in love with that made me choose Kerry Aradhya.