BUNNY FINDS EASTER: Faith Thoughts from the Author

Have you read my Easter book BUNNY FINDS EASTER?  It released with Zonderkidz last Spring and both then, and now, it’s my hope, that it will be used as a fun introduction to the real meaning of Easter with littlest ones. The story is bouncy and colorful and fits right into an Easter basket. 

It was my joy to write and I love how illustrator Ela Jarzabek’s colorful renderings of Bunny and friends complement the joyfully rhyming text.

Though I carefully crafted every line, I must confess that I have a favorite. It comes near the end, when Bunny finds herself in church.  All through the book she’s been on a hunt to find what Easter signifies. She’s dyed eggs and nibbled hot cross buns and hopped through an Easter Egg Hunt. But, though all those things can be fun clues, it’s not until this moment near the end of the book that she has that heart moment, when deep inside, she makes the connection and figures it out.

Here’s that scene recapped: Bunny is in her pew as all stand to sing the Easter news.  

“Who came to take our sins away? And rose again on Easter Day?”  

Here’s the moment:

And on the next spread she joyfully sings the answer: “Jesus!”

This, my friends, is what I pray for all of our children. Not that their whiskers twitch, but that this Easter, deep inside they feel that glow of knowing Jesus came and died and rose again for them.  

Happy Easter!

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JOIN ME for a Valentine’s Day VIRTUAL BOOK LAUNCH EVENT for MY TENDER HEART BIBLE!

VALENTINE’S DAY INVITATION! You and your little ones are invited to a special Valentine’s Day Book Launch Event for MY TENDER HEART BIBLE this coming Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at 3pm Eastern. Hosted by Paraclete Press, the event will include:

1. An introduction to My Tender Heart Bible
2. A little chat time with the author – me!
3. A reading of THREE of my favorite stories from the collection
4. A Q&A
5. The unveiling of some awesome free resources to go with the book

I hope you will join us! To sign up, press here. It will also run on on Facebook so you can check here for that.

And if you want to order a copy for your church, school, or home library… or to give as a gift, check here for easy links.

And, just in case you haven’t seen the book yet, here is the book trailer:

I hope you will join us!

The COUNTDOWN for MY TENDER HEART BIBLE is on!

With less than three weeks to go until MY TENDER HEART BIBLE officially releases, I’ve been busy getting ready. In anticipation, here are just a few of the things I’ve had on my to-do list:

1. Training Teddy, who has been my special bear since I was two, to be my storytime companion. He’s holding a tooth brush because the theme of our visits will be establishing cozy bedtime routines that include brushing teeth, getting in jammies, praying and snuggling up with a favorite stuffy to read books like MY TENDER HEART BIBLE!

2. Scheduling school, library, and bookstore events for the winter and spring. If you would like me to visit your school, library or bookstore, please reach out to me via my contact page.  I’m also offering a handful of free 20-minute virtual visits, so reach out to me there as well if that is of interest.  Check out the visits I have set up so far on my Upcoming Events page.

3. Setting up a small, but enthusiastic, book launch team to do things like share the book in their communities, recommend the book for purchase at their local schools and libraries, share about the book on social media etc. 

4. Arranging and then preparing for a virtual book tour that includes stops at blogs, podcasts and more. Let me know if you’d like to be one of the stops.

5. Creating extension activities and crafts for teachers/parents to use after reading MY TENDER HEART BIBLE.

6. Being intentional about connecting and engaging daily on my various social media feeds. I hope you’ll join me there. There are buttons in the header and footer here for easy connecting.

7. Updating my author bio info on various book-related websites. 

8. Preserving daily time in the midst of all this to write new stories, poem, and picture books. (I have several in progress.)

9. Remembering to BREATHE and ENJOY the process…  

LEARN MORE about the book, including links for where to purchase, on my website’s dedicated MY TENDER HEART BIBLE book page.

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BUNNY FINDS EASTER wins a NORTHERN LIGHTS BOOK AWARD!

I’m delighted to share that my 2022 Easter-themed board book BUNNY FINDS EASTER published by Zonderkidz and illustrated by Ela Jarzabek has won a Northern Lights Book Award in the Holiday/Notable Days Category.

Per their website, “The Northern Lights Book Awards considers children’s books to be an art form and honors books that excel in aesthetic and literary qualities with an emphasis on permanency. We are seeking works that will leave a lasting impression, ones that will resonate with the reader not only now but in years to come.”

Their judging panel “consists of industry experts in the fields of education, publishing, and writing. Not only are they seeking works that will resonate with the reader in years to come, but they are especially interested in books that are enriching, uplifting, and promote goodwill.”

Wow! Bunny and I are honored to be recognized in this way and we can’t wait to visit schools and churches this coming Easter season. In the meantime, order a copy for your church or school, or your children’s Easter basket, if you haven’t already, and enjoy this fun book trailer that Zonderkidz created for the book’s release last spring.

This will be my last post of 2022. See you in January with brand new inspiration for your inbox!  

Note: If you enjoyed this post, please consider subscribing to my blog using the subscribe button in the footer or sidebar. I post once or twice weekly with inspirational reflections, tips, interviews and more.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD: Five LOVELY Endorsements (Plus a PPBF!)

On this chilly November Friday, as we head into what feels like the start of wintry celebrations, with Thanksgiving first up, I thought I’d take a moment to give thanks for all the support and encouragement I have experienced with the release of my new book, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD. It’s a simply told board book that uses counting and rhyme to introduce littlest ones to real gift of Christmas – Jesus- and the feedback I’ve gotten so far is that it’s striking a tender chord in hearts of all ages. Today I thought I’d share five endorsements the book has received – including one from a Children’s Ministry Director!

I’m also delighted to share that HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD is the featured book today over at Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday. The post there includes a review and a craft/game from the author – me! Here’s the link for that. Oh, there’s a giveaway there as well. So be sure to head on over. Happy Friday!

“A fun and engaging introduction to the Christmas story.” —School Library Journal

“You will not be able to read this book without smiling! Every single page of this counting Christmas offering from Laura Sassi is filled with delight. From one stable to ten tiny toes, this book is a joyous, fun, interactive way to celebrate the season with little ones.” —Glenys Nellist, author of Snuggle Time Christmas Stories and Good News! It’s Christmas!

“A creative re-telling of a timeless story—young children will smile with the turn of each page.” —Christine Voegeli, Director of Children’s Ministry at New Providence Presbyterian Church

“Happy Birthday, Christmas Child has everything I’m looking for in a faith-based picture book—lilting rhymes, a sweet story, and, most importantly, Biblical truth! It deserves a place in your holiday book basket.” —Kristin Wynalda, creator of Big Books, Little Ears

“Simply told in lovely rhyme, Happy Birthday Christmas Child is presented in a way that is true to the bible’s telling but written for youngest readers to enjoy, with things to count on every page along the way – from 1 stable to 10 tiny toes.” —Susanna Leonard Hill, New York Times bestselling children’s author

PARENTS! TEACHERS! KIDMIN! Get your FREE Activity Kit for HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD

Reading HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD is just the beginning.

Below you will find the link to the FREE printable activity kit designed especially for littlest ones.

The nineteen page kit includes:

• “Happy Birthday, Jesus” Party Ideas and Activities
• Printable Cupcake Toppers for the Christmas Child!
• Printable Happy Birthday, Christmas Child! Stickers
• 3 Coloring Pages
• 10 “Trace and Learn” pages

Here’s the link to the FREE HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD ACTIVITY KIT.

If you decide to use any of these resources, please take pics and tag me!  I’d love to see  them being enjoyed “in the wild”!

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Five COUNTING Tips to Get the Most out of HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD (plus 2 Reviews and a Giveaway!)

I have FOUR fun newsie bits for today’s post. (Perfect for a book about counting.)

First, it’s been one week since HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD released and over the weekend I got my first glimpse of the book being read “in the wild” by a lovely grandmother/grandaughter pair at my book signing down in Ocean Grove. I loved watching the interaction between the two as they turned the pages together – with granddaughter proudly counting. So cute. And they purchased the first copy that day!

Second, since counting is such an integral part of this little Christmas board book, you may wonder if I had it in mind from the beginning. Find out today over at author Darlene Beck Jacobson’s blog as I reveal that plus Five Counting Tips to Get the Most our to HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD. Paraclete Press is also providing one copy for a giveaway, so you have two fun reasons to head over there.

Third, be sure to check out Sally Matheny’s review of HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD. Her reviews are always so thoughtful. Here’s the link . While you are there, I hope you will enjoy exploring her many other reviews as well.

Fourth, check out the SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW!!! I was delighted to discover last weekend that School Library Journal reviewed HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD in their September issue. (Thanks to my librarian for letting me have a peek.) It’s a good one. What’s their verdict? See below. It’s a YES!  

Now, a SPECIAL REQUEST. Will you help this book reach little hands by recommending it for acquisition at your local library? 

Want to purchase copy? It’s available wherever books are sold. Links and more on my new designated book page.

TEN Tips for Reading BOARD BOOKS with Babies and Toddlers plus a PRECIOUS Memory

Every night when my kids were little – starting when they were babies – we would wrap up our day with some cozy reading time, followed by a lullaby and a prayer. They loved it. I loved it. My husband loved it. 

We had our favorite board books which included Goodnight, Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (to which we always added a long list of items in their room), Time for Bed by Mem Fox, and my son’s all-time favorite What to Wear, Jesse Bear” by Nancy White Carlstrom (to which we made up our own tune and actions).

And this picture, oh this picture, makes me smile.  I think my husband took it or maybe my sister. It was taken shortly after our sweet Miss A arrived and my son, then four, was so excited that he held her hand during our bedtime readings. Wasn’t that a precious and tender way to demonstrate his love?

Now, in celebration of the joy and bonding that happen when we read with our little ones, here are 10 tips for reading board books with babies and toddlers.  What would you add?

Tip #1: Make reading time special. (It’s about more than just reading. It’s about
bonding, interacting and fostering love of story and storytelling.)

Tip #2: Ask questions. “Where’s the___?” “Who/what’s that?” “What’s ___ doing?”

Tip #3: Read anywhere, anytime. Read often.

Tip #4: Add simple actions and/or sounds. (Like animal sounds)

Tip #5: Vary the delivery. Sing the story. Use different voices.

Tip #6: Let toddlers turn the pages. Anticipate what will happen.

Tip #7: Point and name things as you read.  

Tip #8: Extend the story with an activity. (Like counting or drawing)

Tip #9: Read the same stories again and again… if they ask! That’s how they learn and grow.

Tip #10: Establish weekly library visits. (Let them pick some of the books.)

Happy Reading, all!

Looking for some new board books for your littles? Check out mine in the Books Tab above!

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Happy Book Birthday to HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRISTMAS CHILD!

In her memoir A CIRCLE OF QUIET, Madeleine L’Engle writes, “Those of us who write are responsible for the effect of our books… Like it or not, we either add to the darkness… or we light a candle to see by.”  As a writer for children, I take those words to heart and I hope my my newest board book, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD, will do just that.  

Inspired by a favorite Christmas verse from Luke 2:19 that describes Mary’s soul-filling wonder as she pondered the events surrounding the birth of Baby Jesus, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD offers littlest readers and their caregivers a chance to slow down and point and count and marvel on each and every page as they celebrate the birth of the Light of the World.

Here I am sharing that inspiration on my porch this summer:

Learn more about the book on my brand new book page or by heading over to happybirthdaychristmaschild.com. Both spots include easy links for purchasing at a variety of vendors.

Happy birthday, brand new board book!  And happy reading, all!

A Web Update, Countdown to BOOK LAUNCH DAY (plus two fun HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD posts)!

Happy news! The process of updating this website is almost complete, and I think it’s time to welcome you back. I hope you enjoy perusing the fresh pages and soaking up the new look. Keep in mind that I’m still working on many details including adding social media links “above the fold”. Any guesses as to what that means? The books page and links are also still a work-in-progress, but I hope to have those complete by next week.

Now here’s a fun challenge for you. Remember how I said I wanted to somehow honor my mom – whose beautiful banner graced this blog for its first ten years? Well, I figured out a way to do just that. If you discover it, please let me know in the comments section.

Finally, it’s hard to believe, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRISTMAS CHILD releases in FOUR days! The virtual blog/podcast tour kicked off this week with these two wonderful blog stops.

Tour Stop #1: Have you ever wondered about the journey a book takes from inspiration to publication? Find out HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD’s journey in this post over at Kathy Temean’s blog. And while you are there, be sure to enter her giveaway for a fresh-off-the-press copy of the book. All the details are on her blog. And only a handful have entered so far… just sayin’.

Tour Stop #2: Head over to Write2Ignite for a thoughtful review of HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTMAS CHILD by Kathy O’Neill. Also included are thoughts on “7 Ways Happy Birthday, Christmas Child Helps Us Slow Down and Allow Little Hearts and Souls to Fill with the Wonder of Jesus’ Birth.”

Happy Friday, all.