Happy Book Birthday: PLIGHT OF THE PELICAN: How Science Saved a Species

Posted on April 1, 2025 by viviankirkfield

YES! YES! YES! It’s time to sing Happy Birthday to another beautiful new book! And this book has a VERY SPECIAL back story…this book was an Honorable Mention in the 2022 #50PreciousWords Contest. If you check yesterday’s blog post where we announced the prize winners and Honorable Mentions, who knows how many books-in-the-making you will find!

Author Jessica Stremer is such a fabulous writer…and her books are incredible. And what a wonderful partnership the editor created when they signed on Gordy Wright to do the illustrations!! The cover invites and intrigues…and the reader can’t wait to open the book to see more!

And we are so lucky…Jessica stopped by to chat…and to share her story behind the story of how her #50PreciousWords entry became a REAL BOOK!!!

ME: WELCOME, Jessica. thank you for stopping by.

JESSICA: Thank you so much for having me, Vivian. I’m excited to share how PLIGHT OF THE PELICAN came to be a book.

Pelicans are one of my favorite birds. I tried writing a story about them years ago, but it just wasn’t working, primarily I think because it was missing the “so what” factor.

In early 2022, my family and I took a trip up the coast of California when I began brainstorming ideas for the 50 Precious Words competition. Pelicans once again popped into my head. My books GREAT CARRIER REEF and LIGHTS OUT both have a hopeful environmental theme and I wondered if I could find a way to incorporate that approach into my entry. Here’s what I came up with:

Soaring

Skimming

Climbing

Spotting

Diving

Splashing

Scooping

Gulping

Toxins leaching

Silently building . . .

Courting

Nesting

Shells thinning

Eggs crushing

Numbers dwindling

Pelicans needing

HELP

Researchers observing

Laws changing

Toxin banning

Scientists offering

HOPE

Eggs hatching

Numbers growing . . .

Chicks chirping

Feathers molting

Fledging

Flapping

Lifting

Flying

Species SURVIVING

Pelicans on Parade

That entry received honorable mention and had a lot of my critique partners excited, so I decided to flush it out into a full picture book manuscript, sticking to the sparse language while working in some layered text for additional context.

My editor loved the concept, but wanted the layered text incorporated into the main body of the manuscript. She also had the brilliant suggestion to add a few spreads about animals that are currently at risk to show that there is more work to be done. Each revision was a lot of work and I’m really proud of how this book turned out.

I was also excited when my editor said that Gordy Wright, who also illustrated my debut picture book GREAT CARRIER REEF, signed on to also illustrate this book. His work elevates the story to a whole new level.

I’m grateful to Vivian for continuing the 50 Precious Words competition. Without her PLIGHT OF THE PELICAN wouldn’t exist.

ME: AND WE ARE GRATEFUL TO YOU, JESSICA, FOR WRITING SUCH BEAUTIFUL BOOKS!!!

Inside spread from Plight of the Pelicans – text by Jessica Stremer & art by Gordy Wright

Dear friends, here’s a little bit about how you can buy this book and how to find out more about Jessica and Gordy.

Here is the link to the publisher’s website.
Signed copies of the book can be purchased through Books and Company.

Jessica Stremer is a children’s book writer with a background in biology and ecology. Her passion lies in inspiring curiosity, wonder, and respect for our natural world. Jessica’s debut picture book, Great Carrier Reef, also illustrated by Gordy Wright, was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection and received two starred reviews. She lives in Wisconsin with her family.

Gordy Wright is an illustrator and printmaker who paints by hand in gouache and acrylic. Recent projects include Wild In the Streets by Marilyn Singer, and Strange But True by Kathryn Hulic, as well as Great Carrier Reef, by Jessica Stremer, which received two starred reviews. Gordy graduated with a first class degree in illustration from the University of the West of England, and lives in Bristol.

Thank you so much, dear friends, for spending your precious time with us here. And thank you for the books bought at Toadstool Bookshop in Keene for the #50PreciousWords Literacy Initiative that is supporting the Children’s Literacy Foundation’s work in supplying books to underserved schools in Vermont and New Hampshire. And thank you to all who mailed books to me…those will be delivered to Sunset Heights Elementary School in Nashua, NH this month.

Cover Reveal: ELSA’S CHESSBOARD

Posted on February 17, 2025 by viviankirkfield

I feel so lucky that I meet so many amazing kidlit authors and illustrators. Sometimes I meet them at conferences. Sometimes our paths cross during an online class. And other times, mutual friends bring us together.

That’s how I connected with Jenny Andrus. She’s in the #Kidlit Foxes author promo group with a couple of other folks I know – and when she reached out and I heard the story behind her debut picture book, ELSA’S CHESSBOARD that releases from Neal Porter/Holiday House on April 29, I just knew I had to help spread the word…and the COVER!

Illustrator Julie Downing has created a cover that truly engages and informs! Look at the background. We can tell right away that this is a book about a time in the past. And look at where the focus is…right on this young girl…and look how the artist has made her active. She’s not just sitting at a chessboard…we can see she is involved in an on-going game! I can’t wait to open the book and turn the pages and read the story…and I’m sure that’s how young children will feel, too.

Here’s a little bit about the book:
Elsa’s Chessboard
Jenny Andrus (author)
Julie Downing (illustrator)
Neal Porter Books/Holiday House
Launch date: April 29, 2025
ISBN: 9780823454082

ME: I asked Jenny what inspired her to write the story.

JENNY: My grandmother (we called her Oma) lived with us when I was growing up, and we were very close. I could talk to her about almost anything–except chess. Even though Oma was passionate about the game, I resisted her every effort to teach me how to play. There was always something else that I would rather do. Eventually, she gave up trying. How I wish I could go back in time and take her up on that offer. Since that’s not a possibility, I went with the next best option: I wrote a book celebrating her life and the game she loved.

Here’s a short summary of the story

Growing up in 1900s Vienna, Elsa loves watching her brothers play chess. “No girls!” they tell her when she first asks to learn; but she wears them down, and soon she’s such a pro that they give her a special chess set of her own. Elsa carries her chessboard with her everywhere, always ready for a game. She even gets to know her future husband over games in the park. But when World War II grips Europe, the young Jewish family flees to America, where they find themselves surrounded by unfamiliar languages. Luckily, Elsa knows one language that can always bring people together: chess!

And here’s a little bit about Jenny:

Jenny Andrus is an author, children’s book reviewer, and librarian. She has written stories for newspapers and magazines, and co-authored a book for new parents, Bay Area Baby. For 14 years, she was a K-8 school librarian, where her favorite part of the job was sharing picture books with kids.

And here’s a little bit about the illustrator:

Julie Downing is the author and illustrator of Hello, Moon; Hello, Sun; and Night in the City. She has illustrated over forty-five picture books, including Cubs in the Tub: The True Story of the Bronx Zoo’s First Woman Zookeeper by Candace Fleming. She has won many awards and citations, including a Parents’ Choice Award, the New York Public Library’s Best Books, APAAL Best Illustrated Book, and the Irma Black Silver Medal.

To find out more about the creators of this beautiful book:
Social media links / website
Instagram:
Jenny: @jennyandruswrites
Julie Downing:@juliedowning

Bluesky
@jandrus.bsky.social

Facebook
@jenny.andrus.94

Websites
Jenny: https://jennyandruswrites.com/
Julie: https://www.juliedowning.com/

Preferred Pre-Order Sales Links
Bookshop.org
Barnes & Noble
Amazon

Reviews welcome on the store sites, as well as on:
Goodreads
Edelweiss

Thank you, everyone, for spending your precious time with us. I’ll be away for the next 2 weeks – and will return JUST IN TIME for #50PreciousWords which takes place right here on the blog on March 2 and March 3. Our wonderful judges are all ready to read your fabulous stories…have you written yours yet? As always, the prizes are amazing! Check out the Heads Up post for guidelines and prize list: https://viviankirkfield.com/2025/02/01/heads-up-the-50preciouswords-2024-international-writing-contest-is-coming-soon-2/

Perfect Picture Book Friday: SHARING SHALOM Plus Giveaway

Posted on December 20, 2024 by viviankirkfield

Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends! Today’s featured book is a recent addition to bookstore and library bookshelves…it launched in September and we were supposed to celebrate HERE with a Book Birthday post…but because of my eye surgery and slow-healing eyes, I had to step back…and author Danielle Sharkqn has been waiting patiently. Thank you so much, Danielle, for your wonderful understanding. And also for offering a GIVEAWAY of a copy of the book. So, dear readers, please make sure you leave a comment and share the post on your social media for extra chances in the giveaway hat.

SAVING SHALOM

Written by Danielle Sharkan

Illustrated by Selina Alko

Published by Holiday House (September 2024)

Ages: 4-8

Themes: Jewish culture, racism, friendship

Synopsis: From Amazon:
A girl’s community joins hands to fight intolerance in this richly illustrated picture book that sings with hope for young readers.

Leila loves going to Hebrew school and hearing stories of mighty kings and quick-witted queens. Being Jewish is a part of her story, and learning Hebrew connects her to her ancestors. L’dor V’dor! From one generation to the next!

But when Leila’s synagogue gets vandalized, she isn’t sure what she wants. Something that used to make her feel special now just makes her feel different.

Then Leila’s classmates and community come together to repair the synagogue. This compassionate gesture makes Leila realize that everyone around her is different—and that’s a beautiful thing.

Lyrical text and gorgeous, textured collage art by award-winning illustrator Selina Alko enhance this uplifting story about honoring a diverse community. Back matter provides a springboard for age-appropriate conversations about inclusion and bridge-building between cultures. Perfect for fans of All Are Welcome and The Proudest Blue.

Why I Love This Book
1. I love books that help children feel seen and heard!
2. I love books that are lyrical read-alouds!
3. I love books with illustrations that will keep children engaged from the first page to the last.

SHARING SHALOM has received many fabulous reviews!
“The creators address an act of antisemitism with candor and sensitivity, reassuring readers that one can belong to multiple communities without hiding one’s beliefs or identity.”—Publishers Weekly

“Rendered with sensitivity and colorful, dramatic images, this is a cautionary tale about antisemitism, and a hopeful one about community support.”—Jewish Book Council

“A crucial story for our time. Sharing Shalom is the perfect introduction to the topics of discrimination, othering, and religious-targeted hate. A compelling look at the tendency to hide what makes us different, and a celebration of the people who make it safe to be who we are.” —Elisa Boxer, Sydney Taylor Honor author of Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust

RELATED ACTIVITIES:
Recycled Paper

Photo courtesy: https://reformjudaism.org/jewish-holidays/tu-bishvat/make-recycled-paper

Celebrate trees on Tu B’Shvat or on any day: Make recycled paper here: https://reformjudaism.org/jewish-holidays/tu-bishvat/make-recycled-paper

Here are a couple of links for articles with ways to fight antisemitism
https://www.hadassah.org/story/eight-ways-you-can-fight-antisemitism
https://facultydevelopment.cornell.edu/faculty-development/belonging-and-equity/resources-for-conversations-on-racism-antisemitism-and-islamophobia/resources-for-conversations-on-antisemitism/
https://www.adl.org/resources/tools-and-strategies/resources-address-and-challenge-antisemitism
https://www.weareteachers.com/antisemitism-in-schools/

Dear friends…we can help beautiful important books like SHARING SHALOM become a success. Here’s what we can do:
Review the book
Buy the book
Put the book on your Goodreads Want to Read Shelf
Share this post on social mediaPerfect
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection

Thank you for sharing your precious time with us!
I hope you all have a safe and happy weekend…and as the many holiday of lights approach, I wish you all a New Year filled with light, love, and laughter.