Cover Reveal: UNICYCLE DAD Plus Incredible Giveaways

Posted on October 9, 2023 by viviankirkfield

Hurray! I’m so glad you are here…because Cover Reveals are very special…a first peek at a new creation! When Sarah Hovorka told me she had a book launching next year from Amicus Ink entitled UNICYCLE DAD, my curiosity was peeked – and when I found out more about the book, I knew I’d want to share it with my blog followers. Even more wonderful, Sarah, and illustrator Alicia Schwab, stopped by to share a bit about the path to publication for this book…PLUS, EACH OF THEM IS OFFERING A FABULOUS GIVEAWAY! Sarah is offering a picture book manuscript and query critique! And Alicia is offering an art portfolio critique! That is so very generous!
And now, the cover of UNICYCLE DAD!

Just look at this amazing cover! This is definitely a book that kids will want to pick up!
Here’s a bit from the Amazon sales page:
Sarah knows her unicycle-riding dad is special–even as Sarah cooks, takes care of her brother, and does homework on her own. When her dad finally graduates from high school, gets a second job, and eventually lands a promotion, Sarah realizes there’s so much more that’s special about him. Unicycle Dad shares the inherent struggles and quiet joys of a single-parent, impoverished household. Raised by a single, teenage father in poverty, author Sarah Hovorka grew up in a family structure lived by many but seldom represented in children’s books. Illustrator Alicia Schwab captures the story with warm, expressive art.

And here’s what author Sarah had to say about the inspiration for the story:
SARAH: Unicycle Dad is based on my childhood being raised by a single, teenage father in poverty. As a child, I admired his skill with the unicycle… he always seemed to soar before my eyes. As I aged into adulthood, I realized there was so much more to admire about him from earning his GED while raising two kids to working two jobs so we could have shoes for school. I hope Unicycle Dad helps children see the strength in their own parents and caregivers, and ultimately, in themselves.

And here’s a little bit about Sarah and how you can connect with her:
Sarah Hovorka writes lots of stuff from big-hearted picture books to horror-ridden novels. Unlike Goldilocks, every genre she tries feels just right, though children’s literature is her primary focus. She is the author of Hattie Hates Hugs and Same Love, Different Hug with two more picture books coming in 2024.

Beyond reading and writing, Sarah loves to play games, homeschool, eat chocolate, and enjoy trees with her husband and three sons in California. You can find out more about her, her books, and follow her blog at www.SarahHovorka.com.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HovorkaSara
FB: https://www.facebook.com/SarahHovorkaAuthor/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/authorsarahhovorka/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21315820.Sarah_Hovorka

Here is a bit about the path to publication for illustrator Alicia:
“I was so excited to illustrate Unicycle Dad, a story all about falling down and getting back up again, that I took the inspiration too literally and fell while hiking, breaking my leg. Despite my mishap, I persisted and finished all the art on time.”

And here’s a little bit about Alicia and how you can connect with her:

Illustrator Alicia Schwab was raised by two bookworms in the Madison, Wisconsin area, working several jobs to support Alicia and her siblings. Alicia started making books when she was little and has gone on to write, illustrate, and design books in Germany and the USA. Alicia specializes in characters that prevail over misfortune, including her debut middle-grade, LITE: The High Treason Incident, a 2023 IPPY Bronze Medalist. Alicia garners creativity by hiking/biking around Minnesota, where she lives with her family and their adventurous dog. www.aliciaschwab.com
Twitter /aschwabart
Facebook /aschwabart
Blue Sky social https://bsky.app/profile/aschwabart.bsky.social
Instagram /schwab.alicia
Threads /schwab.alicia

We all know how important it is to show support for books we love. Please do at least one of these things for this book:
Buy the book.
Here are several pre-order links:
Indie bound
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Review the book.
Put the book on your Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf.
Tell friends about the book (share on your social media & follow these creators)
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection.

And of course, don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win one of the two amazing giveaways. In your comment, please let us know if you’d rather win the Picture Book Manuscript and Query Critique from Sarah or the Art Portfolio Critique from Alicia.

I hope you all have a beautiful week!

Board Book Saturday: TELL ME ABOUT SPACE Plus Giveaway

Posted on October 7, 2023 by viviankirkfield

Happy Board Book Saturday, dear friends! Have you noticed there seem to be lots more board books being published? And many of them are nonfiction/STEM related. That’s because studies show how important it is to put books in the hands of our littlest story-lovers…this is the time in their lives that they are learning the MOST – like sponges waiting to soak up information and experiences. So, when Lisa Perron reached out to tell me about her new board book that launched on October 3rd, I knew I had to share it with all of you. And the lovely Lisa is offering a copy of the book to ONE LUCKY WINNER. Please make sure you leave a comment on the blog and share the post widely!

Written by Lisa Varchol Perron – Illustrated by Jennifer Falkner – Published by Little Simon

Here’s a little bit about the book from the Amazon sales page:
Perfect for curious little minds, this nonfiction board book teaches young readers all about outer space through question-and-answer text!

Tell me why the sun goes down.
What happens to its light?

The sun stays put! It’s Earth that spins,
creating day and night.

Why don’t we float into space? How many moons are there? A child asks about outer space, and their grownup answers in rhyming, factual text. Little ones will love learning that the earth is constantly spinning, that Saturn isn’t the only planet with rings, and that most planets have their own moons!

I know many of us wonder how folks get book deals for board books…fortunately, Lisa stopped by to chat about that and about the inspiration and the path to publication for this book.

LISA: One of the biggest challenges in writing a STEM board book is making the science accessible to very young kids. I was lucky to work with a brilliant editor, Hannah Lambert (editor of MY LOVE FOR YOU), who helped define the scope and keep the content matched to this age group. She also made sure the child’s questions flow from one to the next, so the spreads feel logical and cohesive. Her skillful editing and Jennifer Falkner’s stunning art brought this board book series to life!

How did you pitch a board book series?

I actually didn’t! I submitted a picture book about a different topic. The editor felt that book was a bit too old for the Little Simon audience, but she really liked the sense of wonder and curiosity, and she mentioned the idea of a board book series, starting with space. My agent encouraged me to write a space board book and pitch some additional topics. We ended up with a two-book deal for TELL ME ABOUT SPACE and TELL ME ABOUT OCEANS.

The initial book about a different topic also found a home, and it will come out in 2025.

Thanks for having me back on your blog, Vivian! I’m so grateful for all you do to support authors and help get books into the hands of young readers.

It was a pleasure featuring this wonderful book, Lisa! And folks, remember that Lisa is offering a copy of TELL ME ABOUT SPACE…please leave a comment for a chance to win!

And also, please do at least one of these things:
Buy the book!
Review the book!
Add the book to your Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf!
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection!
Tell friends about the book on your social media!

Perfect Picture Book Friday: I SHIP: A Container Ship’s Colossal Journey Plus Critique Giveaway

Posted on October 6, 2023 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends! Every new book is special…but this one is extra special to me because #50PreciousWords is part of its story and author Kelly Rice Schmitt shares what happened:
KELLY: I Ship really began with what will be the second book in the series, which unfortunately isn’t announced yet. I had been struggling with how to simplify a complex concept for kids. Enter Vivian’s #50preciouswords contest. I challenged myself to distill this topic using only 50 words. Brevity gave me the idea to narrate the story in first person. Fast Forward a few months – I have a story draft about a container ship getting stuck in the Suez Canal (sound familiar?) but my critique group thinks it needs a better angle. They suggest reframing it to be in the voice of my #50preciouswords story… and I Ship was born! Thank you, Vivian, for inspiring all of us to try to be extremely INTENTIONAL with our words. For me, it launched a whole book series!