Happy Book Birthday: HAZEL AND MABEL: TWO HEARTS APART

Posted on September 30, 2025 by viviankirkfield

It’s Tuesday, dear friends…and you know what that means! It’s time to sing Happy Birthday to a brand new book from a long-time kid lit buddy of mine, Melissa Stoller.

It’s called: HAZEL AND MABEL: TWO HEARTS APART…and it’s illustrated by Anita Bagdi and published by Gnome Road Publishing!

And because Melissa is a sweetheart – she’s stopped by to share a bit of the story behind the story. She knows we always love to get a peek at what inspires writers to write a particular story.
ME: Welcome, Melissa! Thank you so much for visiting with us today! Please share a little bit about the story and why you wrote it.

MELISSA: Thank you for hosting me on your blog, Vivian! I could not think of a better book birthday launch for HAZEL AND MABEL: TWO HEARTS APART, illustrated by the extremely talented Anita Bagdi, and published by Gnome Road Publishing. It’s a story about friendship, and I am grateful for our amazing friendship which has spanned many years.

This book is about what happens after a best friend moves away, and when she returns, things don’t feel exactly as they used to. I was inspired to write this story because my children and I have experienced people moving and friendships shifting and changing. Through Hazel and Mabel’s adventures, I wanted children to see that while someone can change, the friendship can still survive. Also, Hazel and Mabel communicate through letters and they both love writing and storytelling. This becomes part of the creative way they find to get the heart of their friendship beating again. Including characters who enjoy writing made my heart sing!

ME: Can you share a bit about how it was to work with your editor? And also, how did you feel when you saw the illustrations?

MELISSA: It has been a dream working with Sandra Sutter and her team at Gnome Road Publishing! And Anita’s illustrations are absolutely stunning and capture all the emotions the characters feel such as disappointment, longing, happiness, and more. I especially appreciate all the details she includes, and I love that she shows Mabel moving away in a hot air balloon. Too cute! And she illustrates how Hazel and Mabel send their letters back and forth – through an Owl Post – truly adorable!

ME: I’m so glad it was such a positive experience, Melissa! And thank you for writing this story…we need all the friendship stories we can get to help mend our somewhat broken world. Plus, I understand you have teacher resources on your website.

MELISSA: Thank you again for highlighting HAZEL AND MABEL: TWO HEARTS APART on launch day! I am so excited for young readers to discover the enduring friendship of Hazel and Mabel! And for educators: check out my website at www.MelissaStoller.com for a complimentary Educator’s Curriculum Guide with discussion questions, enrichment materials, and lesson ideas.

Dear friends, here’s a little bit about author Melissa Stoller:

Melissa Stoller writes to bring connection, joy, and a bit of magic to her readers. Her newest picture book, Hazel and Mabel: Two Hearts Apart, illustrated by Anita Bagdi, releases from Gnome Road Publishing on September 30, 2025. Melissa’s next picture book, Stella’s Special Recipe, illustrated by Valerya Milovanova, will release from Kar-Ben Publishing in Fall 2026.

Melissa is also the author of the chapter book series The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection – Return to Coney Island, and the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush; Ready, Set, GOrilla!; Sadie’s Shabbat Stories; Planting Friendship: Peace, Salaam, Shalom; and Building Bridges: Peace, Salaam, Shalom (co-written). Melissa is a Blogger for the Children’s Book Academy, a Rate Your Story Judge, a volunteer with SCBWI/MetroNY, and a Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Trustee. In other chapters of her life, Melissa has worked as a lawyer, legal writing instructor, freelance writer/editor, and early childhood educator. She lives in New York City with her family, and enjoys theatre, museums, and Central Park walks with family and friends.

TO CONNECT WITH MELISSA AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HER BOOKS:
https://www.MelissaStoller.com
https://www.MelissaStoller.com/blog 
http://www.facebook.com/MelissaStoller
http://www.twitter.com/melissastoller
http://www.instagram.com/Melissa_Stoller
www.pinterest.com/melissa_Stoller

@MelissaStoller.bsky.social

You can purchase HAZEL AND MABEL: TWO HEARTS APART at these bookstores:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/hazel-and-mabel-two-hearts-apart-melissa-stoller/960a747616a2c234?ean=9781957655574&next=t&next=t

https://www.amazon.com/Hazel-Mabel-Two-Hearts-Apart/dp/1957655577/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hazel-and-mabel-melissa-stoller/1146882184?ean=9781957655574

And because we want beautiful books like this one to become a success and get into the hands of young readers, we can:
Buy the book – use one of the links above
Review the book
Tell friends about the book (PLEASE share this post on your social media)
Ask local libraries to purchase copies for their collection

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your precious time with us. I hope you all have a wonderful week!

#PPBF: G.G. Rock Climbs

Posted on October 9, 2014 by viviankirkfield

Today is Perfect Picture Book Friday.

I am doing a review of a chapter book for ages 6-10. I know that many parents are moving towards chapter books as their children begin reading on their own. And, although I believe that picture books are wonderful for elementary grades even when kids are reading themselves (for so many reasons), I also know that great chapter books continue the engagement of young readers with the world of books. My favorites were Little Women, Black Beauty and ALL of the Nancy Drew series. And, if G.G. Rock Climbs by Marty Mokler Banks had been around then, I know I would not have been able to put it down.

G.G. ROCK CLIMBS

Written by Marty Mokler Banks

Photo Illustrations by Alisa Mokler Harper

Publisher: Switch Monkey Press (2014)

Ages: 6-10 (But I was totally engaged!)

Themes:

Friendship, self-esteem/self-confidence, overcoming challenges, rock climbing

Opening Lines:

“Does your mom let you have cake? With thick creamy frosting. And little flowers on top?

Well. My mom does not!

Oh, all right. Maybe on special occasions. But it seems like never. Mom says sugar is Not Good for a Healthy Body.

Boring!

So when I first opened Stinky Sarah’s birthday party invitation, I immediately thought: CAKE! I get CAKE!”

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

Eight-year-old G.G. climbs all over stuff—from the couch in her apartment to the boulders at the park. So when she’s invited to Stinky Sarah’s birthday party at Rock Star climbing gym, G.G.’s up the wall in no time. G.G. likes it so much, she and her friend, Isaac, take a rock climbing class. When they head outside, things are suddenly more difficult. Can G.G. brave those steep rock faces up Zoo Canyon?

Why I like this book:

Well-written, exciting page-turner that will keep kids engaged from the first page to the last
Love the photo-illustrations – placed at just the right points in the story – really connects you to the story and the characters
Great message about friendship, facing and overcoming fears, the importance of challenging ourselves

How a parent can use this book:

Read it with your child – great opportunity to talk about things your child would like to do but maybe is afraid to try
Talk about how Isaac and G.G. supported and encouraged each other

The book is available on Amazon.

If you’d like to connect with Marty Banks (she the co-coordinator of southern Colorado SCBWI) or learn more about her other books, please visit her website: http://www.martymoklerbanks.com/

Or her blog where she reviews all things chapter book: Chapter Book Chat

Related Activity:

Why not visit a local gym or play center that has a rock climbing wall for kids?

Photo courtesy: http://www.ssww.com

For AMAZING crafts and activities using rocks, stones and pebbles, please visit: http://www.kidactivities.net/post/ideas-with-stones-and-rocks-for-kids.aspx

If you are looking for more wonderful book reviews, please visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog. If you are a mom, teacher or librarian, please check out Susanna’s amazing Perfect Picture Book page with over 1000 categorized picture book reviews and activities.

And, because today is my grandson’s sixth birthday, here’s a yummy birthday cake – please help yourselves to a BIG slice!

#PPBF: Hoot and Holler – A Story About Friendship

Posted on January 31, 2014 by viviankirkfield

Today is Friday – I have a children’s book review to add to the Perfect Picture Book resource list that author Susanna Leonard Hill is building on her blog. For more wonderful reviews from authors, educators and others who contributed today, please go here.

I spent the most delightful morning at my grandson’s Kindercare kindergarten class. We had made a book together – he drew the pictures and told me what to write. Then he told his teacher that he wanted his grandma to come in to read the book to his friends. The teacher was thrilled (another pair of hands is always appreciated in a classroom filled with active kids)…and today was the day. Jeremy could hardly wait to get to school…in the car, he told me that he was a gazillion and trillion excited.

Of course I had a ball – and read a whole bunch of picture books with them in addition to the book Jeremy had made. It’s always fascinating to observe the interactions amongst the kids – friends one moment and arch-enemies the next.

So I decided to bring a book to you that addresses the topic of friendship…and with Valentine’s Day just two weeks away, it seems very appropriate.