Tag Archives: Courage

Cover Reveal: UNICYCLE DAD Plus Incredible Giveaways

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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!


Perfect Picture Book Friday: THE PORRIDGE POT GOBLIN Plus Giveaway

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Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. Today’s featured story reminds me of the folktales I loved as a kid – and I was so happy when author Jacqueline Jules shared the ARC with me. She also stopped by to chat a bit about the path to publication for this book AND she is offering a giveaway of a copy – so please make sure you leave a comment and share the post on your social media.

THE PORRIDGE-POT GOBLIN

Written by Jacqueline Jules

Illustrated by Hector Boriasca

Published by Apples and Honey Press

Ages: 5-7

Themes: Courage, ingenuity, Jewish folktale

Synopsis:
In The Porridge-Pot Goblin, siblings Benny and Rose are frightened by an invisible goblin, only known by his pranks and his tracks. They fear the goblin is too big for them to stop. But working together, Benny and Rose learn they are much braver than they think. This tale, drawn from Eastern European folklore, includes a working single mom and two siblings who want to let her rest while they get ready for Shabbat. An end note explains the Jewish origin of goblins.

Why I Love This Book:
1. I always loved folktales and, like most folktales, this one is entertaining, engaging, and has a message we all can embrace.
2. I love the ingenuity and bravery of the two children.
3. The illustrations are perfect and help bring the characters to life.

As promised, Jacqueline stopped by to tell us a bit about her path to publication for this book. And I think what she has to say is very encouraging for all of us…I know it convinced me to pull out an old story of mine to see if I could breath new life into it.

JACQUELINE: The Porridge-Pot Goblin was an abandoned manuscript I picked up during the pandemic when there was nothing else to do but stay home and write. Working on a story about handling fears was very comforting at the time. I hope The Porridge-Pot Goblin will make children laugh as they realize that goblins and challenges can turn out to be smaller than they first appear.

Here’s a little bit about the author: Jacqueline is the award-winning author of fifty books for young readers including the Zapato Power series, the Sofia Martinez series, Duck for Turkey Day, The Hardest Word, Never Say a Mean Word Again, and the recently released middle grade verse novel, My Name is Hamburger.

And here are some links to find out more about her and her books:
Please visit her website at www.jacquelinejules.com.
Connect with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BooksbyJacquelineJ/

And here are some links where you can buy The Porridge-Pot Goblin
Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-porridge-pot-goblin-jacqueline-jules/18389819?ean=9781681155913
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Porridge-Pot-Goblin-Jacqueline-Jules/dp/1681155915/ref=nosim?tag=jacquelinejul-20


RELATED ACTIVITIES:
FLATBREAD GOBLIN FACES

Photo courtesy: https://funfamilycrafts.com/goblin-flatbreads/
What fun! Grab some prepared pizza dough or mix up a batch of your own and follow the directions to create goblin faces – bake and eat! Serve with hummus, salsa, peanut butter or your favorite topping: https://funfamilycrafts.com/goblin-flatbreads/

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Please don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of this wonderful book. And if you share the post on social media, you get extra tickets in the giveaway hat. Also, please remember that the best way to help authors and illustrators of the books you love is to buy their books, review their books, tell friends about their books, and ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection.

Happy Book Birthday: BRAVE LIKE MOM Plus Crit Chat Giveaway

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Hip Hip Hooray!!! We are singing Happy Book Birthday for a very special book that is near and dear to my heart. It’s actually based on a true story in the life of the author’s family – but it hits home for me, too. Cancer has visited my family – my mother, grandmother, sister, niece, cousin…and myself. And when I heard about BRAVE LIKE MOM by Monica Acker, illustrated by Paran Kim and published by Beaming Books, I was excited to share it with all of you. I recently got to meet Monica in person at a book event for one of my CPs, Carrie Finison, at the wonderful Silver Unicorn bookstore in Acton, MA. It’s always special to get to hug writer friends…and Monica is not only talented, but generous as well…she’s offering a giveaway of a 20-minute Zoom critique chat!! Please make sure you leave a comment on the blog post and share on social media and tag friends…that’s a great way to help authors and illustrators.

Here’s a little bit about BRAVE LIKE MOM from the Amazon sales page:

As one girl watches her mom battle illness, she sees Mom being strong, brave, and fierce on both good days and bad ones. Mom is fierce as she catches and wrestles a fish and brave as she endures needles from the doctor. The girl wants to be brave like Mom! As she worries about her mom’s health, the girl realizes that bravery comes in many forms and that she can be brave too.

A poignant and sensitive story about a loved one living with a chronic illness, and an important lesson about how being brave doesn’t mean you aren’t scared.

As I mentioned, the story is based on a true story. Monica stopped by to share a bit about how the book came to be and what she hopes the book will do:

MONICA: A bit more about my book: BRAVE LIKE MOM is about a child who is inspired to be brave and strong like her mom, who is living with a serious illness. The book launches today, November 1, 2022 with Beaming Books, and the talented Paran Kim is illustrating. I wrote this story for my sister-in-law and nieces when my sister-in-law was battling cancer. After she passed away, working on the story was an act of healing for me, and my hope is that readers will recognize the strength and bravery they already have.

Thank you so much, Monica, for sharing with us. And thank you for creating a story that will help other families.

Dear readers, we can do our part…we can help the book become successful. We can buy a copy, review it, tell friends about it, and ask our local library to purchase copies for their collection. I hope you do at least one of these things for BRAVE LIKE MOM!

And I hope you all have a wonderful week! I’ll be chatting today with an editor about a manuscript of mine that she received…she’s looking for revision…and I’m ready! Then on Wednesday, I’ll be presenting Sweet Dreams, Sarah on a virtual platform to classes in the Chicago Public Schools. And I’m wishing good luck to all who entered Susanna Hill’s Halloweensie Contest.