The MY TENDER HEART BIBLE Book Tour Continues with two interviews, a review, and a gifting idea!

One of the joys of having a new book out is getting to chat about it in meaningful and fun ways. Today I have two new interviews to share with you.

First up, I was honored to be interviewed by the lovely Christian author, Crystal Bowman, whose writing I have looked up to for a long time. Here’s the link to that.

Then, last week, I was interviewed by the amazing Brock Eastman. You can check that out here.

Third, bestselling Christian author, Diane Stortz, who, like me, has a heart for reaching next generations with messages of God’s love through Jesus, kindly shared her thoughts on MY TENDER HEART BIBLE in her May newsletter. Read the full review and newsletter here.

Now for the GIFTING idea:

From the moment I penned the first word in this Bible story collection, it has been my hope and prayer that it be used as a colorful, engaging poetic introduction to God’s love and God’s Word. Over these last three months since it released, I’ve signed copies for baby showers, baptisms, birthdays and Easter baskets. But now, as we approach graduation season – preschool graduation, that is, or even Sunday School graduation, I wonder if God might place it on your heart to gift MY TENDER HEART BIBLE to a child you know who is graduating from their preschool years. Or, maybe even, you might sponsor a child’s class and gift a copy to each child? Or, gift a copy to each class at your child’s or grandchild’s school so that it might be a blessing for years to come?

The book is available everywhere. But if you choose to purchase copies for a school or class, my publisher, Paraclete Press, offers great discounts for bulk purchases. If ordering 1 – 10 copies, use the code SASSI for a 20% discount. After that the discount will apply automatically, with a 20% for up do thirty copies, 25% for up to up to 60 copies, 30% for up to 99 copies and 40% discount for 100+ copies. Check my book page for links to the publisher and other vendors.

And if you decide to order multiple copies for a class or school, let me know and I will send signed book plates with a special message for each book!

Time for the First… MY TENDER HEART BIBLE Friday Round Up!

My new book, MY TENDER HEART BIBLE, released a week and a half ago and, in celebration I have FOUR fun things to share today – including a GIVEAWAY! I hope you will grab a cup of coffee or tea and check them out.

First, on Tuesday, I was delighted to be hosted by Paraclete Press for a special TENDER HEART-themed Valentine’s Day story time which included a chat with host Rachel McKendree, a reading of three of my favorites from the collection, a Q&A and a sneak peek at my next TENDER HEART book which will be out in the fall. You can enjoy that here:

Second, in case you missed my interview over at Terrie Hellard-Brown’s “Books That Spark” podcast, here’s the link for that plus a snap-shot quote which really shows my heart in writing this new book.

Third, yesterday I was honored to be guest blogger over at Darlene Beck Jacobson’s blog on a topic close to my heart — sharing God’s Word with little ones in RHYME! (PLUS, Darlene is giving away one SIGNED copy of my newest release: MY TENDER HEART BIBLE. (This is the giveaway I mentioned above!) Find all the details here.

Finally, be sure to check out Sally Matheny’s review of MY TENDER HEART BIBLE. Her reviews are always so thoughtful. While you are there, I hope you will enjoy exploring her many other reviews as well.

Check back in next week for more fun bookish things! Happy Weekend, all! (And if you aren’t following my blog yet and want to, I’d love that! Buttons to do so are in the sidebar and footer.

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.

BUNNY FINDS EASTER Friday Roundup

Happy Friday, friends! Bunny and I have four fun things to share with you this week. First, if you live in the metropolitan NY/NJ area, I invite you to stop in at Perwinkles Gift Shop in Cranford, NJ, tomorrow March 26th from 1 – 3. Owner, Elaine, will have a broad selection of my books on hand, including BUNNY FINDS EASTER! Let’s help her sell them all. Details in image.

Second, be sure to check out Sally Matheny’s review of BUNNY FINDS EASTER. 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.

Third, I was honored to be featured in writer (and former English teacher) Joyce McCullough’s Spring 2022 Newsletter with an in-depth interview. Thank you, Joyce. Here’s the link.

Finally, earlier this week I had the pleasure of getting to chat with Christian children’s author, Christie Thomas about books and other fun things including, BUNNY FINDS EASTER. Here’s the link for that:

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The BUNNY FINDS EASTER Bunny Hop Continues with… a Review, a Podcast and a BIG Giveaway!

So many fun things to share this week as Bunny hops her way towards Easter. First, be sure to check out this fresh-off-the-press review for BUNNY FINDS EASTER from author Rebecca Gomez. She’s a real stickler for rhyme… and she loved it! (Phew.) And this cute little fella weighed in as well. Isn’t he darling? Here’s the link: https://www.rebeccajgomez.com/2022/03/review-bunny-finds-easter-by-laura.html

Also, last week I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Mel Rosenberg for his “You’ve Got Mel” podcast. Enjoy it and all his other interviews with children’s authors on the New Book Network. Here’s the link: https://newbooksnetwork.com/bunny-finds-easter

Finally, Zonderkidz is sponsoring a 25 book giveaway of BUNNY FINDS EASTER on Goodreads. Be sure to enter. While you are there, please add the book to your “to-read” list. That will help others to discover it. And after you read it, or any of my books, if you could also leave a review, that would be wonderful. Good or bad, every review helps. Thank you! Here’s the link to the giveaway: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/340275-bunny-finds-easter

Time for the BUNNY FINDS EASTER Bunny Hop: Stop One

One of the joys of having a new book out is getting to visit and celebrate with a virtual book tour!  And because this tour includes more than just blogs, I’ve decided to call it the BUNNY HOP!  Each week, we’ll be visiting somewhere fun but it will be a surprise! Don’t worry, I’ll let you know where to go as we hop along together. 

And where is Bunny, the sweet protagonist from BUNNY FINDS EASTER (Zonderkidz, February 1, 2022) hopping to today?  I’m so glad you asked. She’s over at picture book author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog for Perfect Picture Book Friday! Thank you for having us, Susanna. The post includes a review, a craft (pictured) and a GIVEAWAY so hurry on over. Here’s the link: https://susannahill.com/2022/02/04/perfect-picture-book-friday-bunny-finds-easter-plus-a-giveaway/https://susannahill.com/2022/02/04/perfect-picture-book-friday-bunny-finds-easter-plus-a-giveaway/

Celebrate HUG A SHEEP Day with LITTLE EWE: Craft and Review!

This past Saturday, in celebration of Hug A Sheep Day which takes place on the last Saturday in October, Little Ewe was featured over at Kathy Carroll’s wonderful Celebrate Picture Books blog. Head over there to find her review with this adorable craft that is also a game. It’s a cozy resting box for Little Ewe! It’s the craft I’ve been using at book store and library events this fall and it’s a big hit. There’s also a giveaway for a free copy of the book which ends 11/4/21.  So grab your favorite cozy November hot beverage and head on over. I’ll make it easy for you.  Here’s the link to the review/craft and here’s the link to the giveaway.  And to make that cute little knitted lamb press here. Thank you for celebrating with Little Ewe!

Where is Little Ewe today? Celebrating PERFECT PICTURE BOOK FRIDAY with Susanna Leonard Hill (PLUS A GAME!)

Today I’m delighted to have LITTLE EWE featured on Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday Series. Head on over to get Susanna’s take on the book. And in the extra fun department, she asked me to share an activity to go along with the book. It’s a fun one! What could it be, you ask? You’ll have to pop over there to find out. I’ll make it easy for you. Here’s the link:

https://susannahill.com/2021/03/12/perfect-picture-book-friday-little-ewe-the-story-of-one-lost-sheep/

Interested in purchasing copies in time for Easter? They are available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon,  Christian Book or your favorite local bookstore.

Happy Reminiscing with Brock Eastman’s BEDTIME ON NOAH’S ARK

I have a special place in my heart for Noah’s Ark themed stories. Indeed, one of my very first childhood writings was a retelling of Noah’s Ark. It’s written on pale green lined paper in second-grade print, includes crayon illustrations… and is very dramatic. Later, when my own kids were little, I loved reading Lucy Cousins NOAH’S ARK with them. We even had the matching puzzle and enjoyed assembling it and naming all the animals. And even later, when I was inspired to write a bedtime story about being scared during a storm, the ark became the setting for my rollicking, yet ultimately soothing rhymer, GOODNIGHT, ARK. 

So, as you can imagine, I was very excited this week when a fun new Noah’s ark themed board book sailed on to my porch.  Written by Brock Eastman and illustrated by Lee Holland, BEDTIME ON NOAH’S ARK (Harvest House Publishers, September 2020) offers young readers and their parents a fresh take on this iconic bible story – this time with a bedtime routine theme.  

There are three things I especially enjoyed about this book. 

First, the sweet cartoon-like illustrations are warm and inviting with oodles of animals doing fun things – like brushing their teeth and putting on their pajamas. As a parent, I can see lots of opportunities to engage little ones in simple counting and naming games. 

Second, I really enjoyed Brock’s use of similes throughout the board book text to describe the bedtime routines of the animals.  My favorite might be “hop into your pajamas like a kangaroo” with “stick your tongue out like a giraffe” (when brushing your teeth) as a close second.  Rich, fun language like this not only warms little ones’ ears to the vividness of words, but also provides fun opportunities to play some fun “_____ like a ____” games.  

Third, this simple, fun story was a sweet reminder to me (and probably to parents everywhere) of how special bedtime is.  Having a nightly routine, like the animals do in Brock’s story, really does lay an important foundation in the growing up experience. Those seemingly simple nightly habits not only foster good dental and hygiene habits, they also set the stage for important unwinding techniques to treasure for a lifetime like reading before bed and laying the joys and concerns of our day releasing through prayer.  

Writing this post sparked fun memories for me of bedtime at our house when my kids were little. I must have been doing something right because bedtime was never something my kids complained about or tried to delay. In fact, they sometimes even asked to go to bed early.  Why?  Because, just like in Brock’s story,  bedtime at our house was a special, cozy time involving bubbles and bath toys, toothpaste and brushes, bedtime stories and sometimes even a couple of before bedtime games… and always ended with prayer and a song.  

I suspect that if my kids were still little, this little board book would quickly have become a favorite. Happy reading!

Learn more about Brock Eastman and is books here.

[Note: Thank you to the the publisher for a sneak peek at the book which I was under no obligation to review. The views and opinions expressed on this blog about books and other things are purely my own.]

EASTER EGG DAY: Five Fun Traditions that Inspired the Book with Author Tara Knudson (and a GIVEAWAY!)

Today I am delighted to welcome children’s book author Tara Knudson in celebration of her darling new Easter board book EASTER EGG DAY (Zonderkidz, 2020). Told in light verse, it’s a celebration of a beloved Easter tradition – decorating Easter eggs. Tara’s charming text opens with:

“Easter eggs,

Family fun!

White eggs dyed

One by one. ”

Tara then takes the reader through a family’s egg decorating celebration. Illustrated by Pauline Stewart, each spread is full of color and warmth and the most adorable little rabbit family. The back cover has instructions for decorating your own eggs – a fun and concrete way to extend the story.

And now, I have a special treat for you as the author herself shares five fun Easter memories that inspired her to write the book. Take it away, Tara!

About the Author

Tara Knudson is a former teacher who has been writing poetry and stories since she was a young girl growing up in Chicago. Her published work can be found in children’s magazines, greeting cards, calendars, and a poetry anthology for teens. She is the author of Christmas Cookie Day and Easter Egg Day, as well as the forth coming Fun Fall Day and Valentine’s Day Treats, all published by Zonderkidz.

NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY!!! If you’d like a chance to win a FREE copy of EASTER EGG DAY (Zonderkidz, February 2020) simply post a comment below letting me know that you’d like to enter. (NOTE: Must be U.S. resident and at least 18 years old to enter.) The giveaway ends Thursday, 3/26/20 at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be announced that Friday! 

[Note: Thank you to the author for this complimentary book that I was under no obligation to review. The views and opinions expressed on this blog about books and other things are purely my own.]