Hello dear friends! Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday. Today’s featured book is beautiful…but more than that, the message it carries will touch many hearts. The author, the lovely Samantha Gassman, is an amazing person…she shared how she came to write this story:
“This book is very precious to me, as the first draft was written in the days following my miscarriage in Nov. 2019. Writing was a way of healing and recovering after the tragedy and forced me to look forward with hope. I learned of the offer of publication a week before my rainbow baby, Kayla, was born in Aug. 2020. She shares her birthday with the book, and coincidentally, National Rainbow Baby Day.“
Dear friends, not only did Samantha open her heart and share her sorrow to help others with theirs, she is also offering an incredible giveaway: a Picture Book Critique PLUS a 30-minute Zoom chat. The winner is going to be one very lucky writer, that’s for sure. Please leave a comment at the end of this post to be entered in the giveaway. And if you help make this book’s launch a success by pre-ordering a copy of DEAR RAINBOW BABY via her Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/sgassmanbooks – Samantha is going to send you a signed bookplate
TA-DA! What an honor to reveal the cover of a lovely book that is close to my heart. My late husband LOVED fishing…and he took our children…and grandchildren, just like the characters in Candace Spizzirri’s new book: FISHING WITH GRANDPA AND SKYE.
Written by Candace Spizzirri – Art by Beverly Love Warren – Launching April 19, 2022 – SporkContinue reading →
Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. Today’s featured book is very special for several reasons. It’s all about kindness, compassion, and inclusion. It about how friendship can blossom among people of different cultures and religions. And, it’s written by THREE AMAZING AUTHORS, Callie Metler Smith, Melissa Stoller, and Shirin Shamsi.
PLANTING FRIENDSHIP: PEACE, SALAAM, SHALOM
Written by Callie Metler Smith, Melissa Stoller, and Shirin Shamsi
Illustrated by: Kate Talbot
Published by Spork/Clear Fork (2021)
Ages: 4-7
Themes: Friendship, inclusion, diversity
Synopsis: From Amazon: When they meet on the first day of school, three girls realize they are different from each other – Molly is Christian, Savera is Muslim, and Hannah is Jewish. Through a class planting project, the girls’ friendship blossoms, and they learn they are more alike than they thought. Written by three women authors from the same faith traditions as the girls in the story, this book brings more kindness and understanding into the world.
Why I Love This Book: 1. I love that three authors, each identifying with a different religion, got together, worked together, and wrote together to create this book about friendship, inclusion, and diversity. 2. The story is one that young kids can identify with – real-life and relevant situations that they will recognize. 3. The illustrations are engaging and help the young reader/listener keep pace with the story and look forward to turning the pages. And there is a lot to notice on each page!
I’ve already got my copy of PLANTING FRIENDSHIP, but if you are looking for where you can get yours, please check your local indie or bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/14501/9781950169603 And remember, beautiful books need our help so that publishers will make more of them. Share the post on your social media platforms, tell friends about this book, and ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection!
I’m also going to be sharing this book for Multicultural Children’s Book Day on January 28th…check out the FREE resources for parents and teachers – and join in the Twitter party to win books on January 28:
Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2022 (1/28/22) is in its 9th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those books into the hands of young readers and educators.
MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves. Read about our Mission & History HERE.
MCBD 2022 is honored to be Supported by these Medallion Sponsors!
Join us on Friday, Jan 29, 2021, at 9 pm EST for the 8th annual Multicultural Children’s Book Day Twitter Party! Be sure and follow MCBD and Make A Way Media on Twitter!
This epically fun and fast-paced hour includes multicultural book discussions, addressing timely issues, diverse book recommendations, & reading ideas.
We will be giving away an 8-Book Bundle every 5 minutes plus Bonus Prizes as well! *** US and Global participants welcome. **
Follow the hashtag #ReadYourWorld to join the conversation, connect with like-minded parts, authors, publishers, educators, organizations, and librarians. See you all very soon on Twitter!
I hope you all have a safe and wonderful weekend. Please stop by tomorrow for Will Write for Cookies and a Q&A with Maxine Schur and Milanka Reardon.
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 