AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: An Interview with Children’s Author Gayle C. Krause (And a GIVEAWAY!)

Today, I am delighted to welcome returning guest Gayle Krause in celebration of the release of her new rhyming picture book ZADIE AND THE WITCH’S TEA, a delightful retelling of Cinderella set in a whimsical witch-y setting. Gayle’s retelling would be lovely paired with other fairytale selections. Looking ahead to Halloween, it would be also a good choice for those looking for non-gory, non-scary books and would be ever so fun to read alongside books like ROOM ON THE BROOM by Julia Donaldson, or GROGGLE’S MONSTER HALLOWEEN by Diana Murray.

Here’s the synopsis: When a little witch’s two older sisters dash her hope of attending the biggest event of the Halloween season because she has no “witchy” magic, her determination and a surprising Fairy Godspider enchantment sends her as a special guest. The adult witches try to outdo each other to become the assistant to the most powerful witch in the land, The Grand Witch. But a kind gesture from the little witch wins the night and the title, and her sisters learn that kindness proves stronger than any magic they possess.

Now, enjoy the interview with my questions bolded.

Thank you so much for joining me today, Gayle. Let’s dig right in. First off, tell us a little bit about yourself including your favorite childhood fairy tale.

As a child I was a voracious reader and mostly read fairytale anthologies. My favorite fairytale was and still is The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Fast forward to my teaching career, training prospective educators for the Pre-K and Elementary classrooms. (I taught Children’s Literature at the secondary and post-secondary levels). And my Fairytale Seminar – BEYOND THE FAIRYTALE – which teaches prospective children’s writers how to reimagine a traditional fairytale and make it their own, and ZADIE AND THE WITCH’S TEA was born. 

As someone who also devoured fairytales as a child, I love how your childhood reading interests paved the way for this sweet story.  Zadie and the Witch’s Tea is a delightful retelling. How did you come up with the idea?  

My sisters and I tease each other about our “witchy” powers (when one calls, the other already has the phone in her hand). So, to celebrate our sisterhood and our sibling thought waves, we gather every summer for fun, food, wine, and of course, ‘dress-up.’ We call it our Witchy Weekend. (See picture.) And since I mentioned the tea party as a child, it was easy to stretch the idea into a child-friendly story. 

Oh, Gayle! You look like you could be part of Zadie’s story.

Were there any challenges along publishing journey for this story?

Zadie’s path to publication took many turns. First written in 2016, it followed the Cinderella tale closely, but had too many words. I revised to a lesser word count and submitted it to my then agent. She, in turn, submitted it to several publishing houses. Most loved the idea but asked me to rewrite it in prose. What?

 For picture books, I think in rhyme. I write in rhyme and am aware of good rhyme vs. bad. As you know, I belonged to The Poets’ Garage alongside of you for six years, was the assistant poetry editor for Beneath The Juniper Tree and served on Angie Karcher’s Rhyme Revolution Committee for four years, helping to write the rhyme rubric and selecting the “BEST” Rhyming picture book in the U.S. 

 After weeks of resistance, I did. My agent loved it, except again, it was too long. So, I took a break and used my creative time to design and sew Zadie, her sisters, and the Grand Witch. (See picture). Sometimes it helps to fill the creative well in a different way.

 You made those? Wow!

Kate Talbot’s illustrations pair charmingly with your text. I love the palette she has chosen and her sweet rendering of Zadie glows with kindness. Tell us a little bit about Kate. 

During my time at the agency, Kate and I shared the same agent. (Since then the agent left the business and Kate and I left the agency). But I love her whimsical illustration style and she was the perfect illustrator to bring Zadie’s story to life. 

 Kate is a Children’s Book Author/Illustrator who has a passion for quirky stories, especially when told in rhyme. (Perfect!) She has a degree in filmmaking and made the shift to children’s writing and illustration in 2011. She lives in New Zealand, loves being outdoors, and cannot resist a good tea party. 

It is indeed a great pairing! Do you have a favorite spread? What makes it your favorite?

I have two favorite spreads—when her Hairy Fairy Godspider casts a spell with her four wands to create a beautiful gown of spider lace (cobwebs) and Zadie at the boo-fae table. Both are beautifully illustrated, vibrant in color, and exude ethereal magic!

I agree. They practically glow! What would you like readers to take away from this story?

I would wish all my readers, both young and old, to know that belief in yourself and a little kindness are powerful tools to accomplish their dreams.

I think your story captures that message well, Gayle. Finally, what’s next? And where can interested readers find your books?

I’m currently putting the final touches on my new middle grade fantasy novel, FIREWILLOW, which is based on my first-place MG-winning entry I submitted to the 2022 Kid’s Choice Kidlit Writing contest. Once I hear back from my Beta readers, I plan to start submitting to literary agents again.

Zadie and the Witch’s Tea can be ordered from any bookstore or requested at local libraries. 

Thank you, Gayle, for joining us. Now for the GIVEAWAY!!!!!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Gayle is offering one SIGNED copy of ZADIE AND THE WITCH’S TEA to one of my readers (please follow my blog) who comments on Zadie’s story and shares news about her little witch on social media. She also have Zadie swag that will accompany the book. (NOTE: Must be U.S. resident and at least 18 years old to enter.) Thank you, Gayle, for providing the winning book. This giveaway ends Monday, August 6 2023 at 11:59 pm EST. 

[Note: Thank you, Gayle, letting me preview the book digitally. I was under no obligation to review. The views and opinions expressed on this blog about books and other things are purely my own.]

LITTLE LOVEDOG’S LONG WALK HOME: An Interview with Barbara Valenza

One morning in early September, I noticed that I had a new follower on Instagram. Her name was Barbara and she was a a storyteller. I took a closer look at her profile picture and realized that I knew her in a completely different context… and that I had no idea that she was a writer! I immediately scrolled through all her posts. Yes, it was true! I was delighted. After following her back, I messaged her to see if she’d like to meet me for lunch and asked if she would bring along her new book LITTLE LOVEDOG’S LONG WALK HOME.

A few weeks later, on a crisp October day, we met for lunch. I loved her sweet book about a little dachshund who’s having a party that no one wants to come to, or so it seems. Delightfully written and illustrated by Barbara, it warmed my heart with messages of hope and kindness. My kind of book for sure!

But the best part of our lunch was getting to know each other in this new context. How wonderful to discover that we share a passion for instilling themes of kindness, acceptance and love in the next generation. Pictured above is a snapshot we took that day holding our books. Afterwards, I asked if she’d be up for an interview on my blog. She said yes! So now, without further ado, here it is with my questions bolded. I hope you find her as inspiring as I do.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey into picture book writing and illustrating.

Barbara: Sharing stories through children’s picture books has been a dream of mine since I was seven years old when my best friend and I would sit under a cherry tree, writing and drawing stories about a very busy bunny family. I pursued art and writing in college, and not long after I graduated, I landed a job in the art department of Jim Henson Productions (The Muppets) in New York City. I was over the moon! It was such an exciting time working with incredible artists and storytellers. I went on to work for a number of years in educational publishing at a graphic design firm. We had wonderful clients like Scholastic, the Museum of Natural History, and many others. At the risk of sounding like a bit of a nerd, I spent a bunch of my free time checking out children’s books from local libraries. I drew and drew and drew and wrote and wrote and wrote. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing about and drawing little characters.

What inspired you to write Little Lovedog’s Long Walk Home?

Barbara: One of the things that makes me mad is bullying, especially when someone is made fun of for being seen as a bit different from others. Different is what makes life interesting! It’s so hard not to want to fight back when you get bullied, but sometimes, the best thing to do is walk away and remember that being kind is always the better path. And, hey, you never know what bright spot may be just ahead.

As a fellow champion of kindness, your story really resonates with me.  I’m also charmed by your skilled use of both text and image to tell the story. Which came first in your creative process — the theme, the written story or the illustrations?

Barbara: As an illustrator and writer, the process is super interwoven. That said, I’d have to say that the theme bubbles up first. I’m always playing around with stories about feeling left out, or being different, or not quite fitting in with the crowd. It’s so easy, at any age, to get discouraged and feel like you don’t quite stack up to everyone else. I was working on a completely different story called The School for Cats and Dogs about a dog who just didn’t fit in. As I began to sketch dogs and cats while I thought about the story and the school and what it all looked and felt like, I sketched a dachshund…with very short legs and a very long back. I fell in love with him because I knew, the moment I saw him, that he was the one excluded by the other dogs.

He spoke to me because he was so full of love with no one to share it with. I thought, what are some of the worst feelings, especially when you’re little? Two biggies: Being laughed at and having a lonely birthday because no one wants to come to your party! And so, Little Lovedog’s story began. It built from there—sketching, getting to know the characters, their personalities and the unfolding of the story. I asked myself questions: Where does he go after being laughed at? What happens on his way home? Does he encounter more foes? New friends? Is everyone a bully or just some dogs? I wanted the story to speak to how important it is to keep treating others the way you want to be treated, no matter what. Once I had a bunch of character sketches and a sense of what happens, I wrote the manuscript. Then it was a back-and-forth process of working through editing text as the images emerged.

In addition to Little Lovedog, there’s a sweet little dog who trails behind as Little Lovedog heads home for his birthday seemingly without any party companions. (SPOILER ALERT: He’s holding a string.)   How did he come to be part of the story and what do you hope kids will notice/learn from him?

Barbara: I love that you ask that! At the start of the story, he’s part of the crowd of other dogs, yet he stands apart, not laughing. I think he too has been bullied for being small, being a little Chihauhau (the number one smallest dog breed). He thinks for himself and does the right thing—he’s nice to someone who needs a friend. He even brings a balloon, since Little Lovedog’s balloon burst.

Tell us the story behind Potato Publishing and how it came to be.

Barbara: Why Potato Publishing? Every so often while I was growing up, my dad would tell me the story of the mysterious potato bag. It was the early 1930s and the Great Depression raged on. My dad’s family was pretty darn poor. They were good-hearted people who worked hard, but finding enough food every day to feed their family of seven wasn’t easy. One day, my dad walked into the kitchen and saw my grandmother–who was a strong and faith-filled woman–crying quietly. When he asked her what was wrong, she said she didn’t have anything to feed them for dinner. But, true to her spirit of positivity, she lifted her chin, squeezed his hand, and said not to worry, all would be well. Sure enough, a short while later, my dad thought he heard a noise at the screen door. When he went to look, he saw no one, but he found a big bag of potatoes on the step. That night they had the most delicious potato soup ever.

It is my hope that the books from Potato Publishing will bring smiles, inspire positive thinking, and remind us all that our world is a brighter, happier place when we are kind to each other.

My books are dedicated to my family, especially my encouraging husband Mark and two amazing grown kids, Laura and Nat, and to my friends and colleagues who have helped me on a difficult journey. My books are also dedicated to my doctor and the caring nurses and staff at Memorial Sloan Kettering. They are truly a silver lining on this journey I can honestly say I didn’t want to take. My doctor advised me to do what makes me happy. And so began Potato Publishing.

(Potato Publishing supports MSK Kids and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital because cancer is rough enough on adults, let alone kids!)

Finally, where can readers find your books?

Barbara: Little Lovedog’s Long Walk Home is available on Amazon, on potato-publishing.com, and at the beautiful little shop in Hopewell, New Jersey, called twine. And, it’s available at the Hopewell Public Library, where I’ll be holding a story time reading in February. Potato Publishing is a new little spud but growing every day. I am grateful for this opportunity to talk about Little Lovedog!

And if you follow me on Instagram at @barbara.valenza.storyteller, you’ll meet plush Little Lovedog who is often out and about in Hopewell having his photo taken.

Thank you so much, Barbara, for taking the time to share Little Lovedog’s and YOUR story with us today. I wish you the very best. And, let’s have lunch again soon, eh?

LOVE IS KIND: MOTHER’S DAY is for GRANDMOTHERS too!

I’ve been thinking a lot this week about my mother and my grandmothers, all of whom I remember fondly, especially in May when we celebrate Mother’s Day. My mom and her mom also shared the same birthdate in May (isn’t that neat?) and so that makes the month extra nostalgic for me as I remember the wonderful bonds we shared.

As the author of LOVE IS KIND (Zonderkidz, 2018) I think I can say, with fair certainty, that Little Owl from the book also loves taking time in May and on Mother’s Day to celebrate the special bond he shares with his Grammy.

In the story, for those of you who haven’t read it, Little Owl is on a quest to show Grammy how much he loves her by buying her a box of heart-shaped chocolates. Along the way, however, he encounters obstacle after obstacle, and ends up arriving with nothing. Nothing, that is, until his wonderful Grammy points out that the gift he has to offer is LOVE and that HE is the gift when he shows love along the way, a gift much better than chocolate!

Here’s a sweet glimpse of that special moment when they both celebrate that HE is the gift captured in a special clip illustrator Lison Chaperon made to celebrate the release of LOVE IS KIND:

I love reading LOVE IS KIND any time of year, but I feel a little extra sentimental as we leap into May. And that sentimentality is actually commemorated in the book. If you have a copy near you, open it up to the dedication page. Do you see who I dedicated it to? My grandmothers!

Sadly, both they and mom, passed away before I ever wrote the first word of the story. Still, I always think of them – and the great bonds we shared – every time I read the book. It is my hope that the book might also become a special bonding story for your families, as you read and enjoy it together with your children and grand children.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Note: If you enjoyed this post, please consider following my blog. I post once or twice weekly. Posts are devoted to celebrating reading, writing and life!

FIVE TIPS TO INSPIRE KINDNESS IN OUR KIDS (Inspired by LOVE IS KIND!)

One of the reasons I wrote LOVE IS KIND was to show in fun story form what love and kindness in action could look like. Now, with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to share a few book-inspired tips to foster kindness in our kids. My hope is that they will inspire you and your little ones to follow in Little Owl’s footsteps and spread love and kindness near and far.

Tip #1  Be kind yourself.  As Grammy from LOVE IS KIND would most certainly remind us, our little owls, I mean kids, are watching our every move. They are learning from us, seeing if our words match our actions. If we want them extend love and kindness to others, we must first be intentional about being kind ourselves in ways big and small.

Tip #2  Brainstorm ways to be kind.  Little Owl was kind and loving every step of the way on his quest to get Grammy those chocolates, but he didn’t realize it until Grammy pointed it out. Sometimes reminders are helpful, so after reading the story, spend a few minutes brainstorming with your children some ways we can be kind to others. Consider having an older child write down your family’s ideas, then put them on the fridge as a visible daily reminder.

Tip #3  Make “good manners” a habit.  Did you notice how polite Little Owl was throughout the story?  And how good manners came so naturally to him?  He said things like, “Have a good day!”, “Congratulations!” and “That’s nice.” I suspect Little Owl’s mama and papa were hard at work on a daily basis instilling those simple niceties. As parents and caregivers, we can do the same with our kids so that when they are out and about those kind and friendly interactions are second nature.  

Tip #4  Wear “kindness glasses.” I like to wrap up author visits by challenging the kids to be kind to those around them just like Little Owl. To to help them remember this, I have them first hold their hands together so that thumbs and fingers touch to form a heart shape. I explain that these are their kindness glasses and I ask them to look through them every morning when they wake up and we all try it, which generates giggles all around. Then, while looking at them through my heart-shaped glasses, I challenge them to find at least one opportunity before the sun sets to extend kindness to another in an unexpected way. The silliness is part of the magic and it sets the tone for a good day.  (Note: This tip pairs nicely with tip #2)

Tip #5  Catch each other being kind! Grammy caught Little Owl completely by surprise when she pointed out that he’d shown love and kindness along the way to Grammy’s. And what was Little Owl’s reaction? He was thrilled! He realized HE was the gift and that his kindnesses towards others were better than any store-bought gift. Likewise, your children will be delighted when you notice their kind deeds. And this, I am certain, will spur them on to more and more and more! And that should make every parent’s heart sing. It sure makes mine!

Blessings to you and your kids as you lovingly instill in them a heart for spreading love and kindness.

Note: A version of this post previously appeared on Jean Matthew Hall’s delightful blog. 

SNAIL MAIL BLESSINGS: Christmas in the NICU Edition

This past August, I invited you to join me in what I’m calling the Snail Mail Blessings Challenge to write and send one hand-written note to someone each week. I had the idea because in this age of instant texts and emails, I’ve been missing the special connection of a different kind of correspondence – the old-fashioned hand-written note.  

Well, I’m realizing God also was preparing my heart (and hand) for something special because about a month ago I received lovely note from a woman named Jessika Sanders who has a ministry called “Praying through the NICU” which supports families in the NICU through prayer and other forms of encouragement.  

Here’s her note:

 Hi Laura! I just had an idea come to me and I wonder if it is from the Holy Spirit! We were in the NICU with our son on Christmas 2 years ago. It was so hard. The kindness of a stranger gifting us a baby toy touched our hearts—especially because it was the one toy I hadn’t gotten our son but had wanted to. ❤️

 This year I was thinking of doing something special for our local NICU as well as some of the families in our online community that find themselves in the hospital for the holiday. I would love to gift them a Christmas book to read to their baby. My first thought was your “Goodnight Manger” board book. ❤️ Would you prayerfully consider being a part of this somehow? I know you are a NICU mom and your book is a beautiful blessing. Would you pray about it and get back to me? ❤️ God bless you!

I am indeed a NICU mom. Our son, who is now in college, was born 16 weeks early and spent 105 days in the NICU.  And those days were so difficult — facing the unknown, wondering if he would be okay and what the future might hold. 

But just as Jessika experienced, during that time, God used strangers to comfort us with words of encouragement and prayer.  A teenager and former preemie came to visit the NICU one day, stopping at each isolette and serving as testament to God’s presence and mercy.  A monastery of complete strangers prayed for us. A quilting guild of women I didn’t even know, not only prayed, but made a quilt that we still use. Three beautiful examples of strangers reaching out with God’s love in the midst of the difficult.

So, of course, I said, yes.  And what would my special role be?  Writing a note of encouragement for each book donated. 

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I also said I would donate three books and my wonderful publisher, Zonderkidz donated 12 more. Jessika was thrilled and she said could match our fifteen with fifteen of her own.  And we were on our way. She also mentioned that she and her team would have a book drive and so the totals might be a little bigger.  Maybe 75?  Would that be okay, she asked.  Of course, I said. I would write as many notes as needed. 

Well, God has knocked my socks off! The number of copies of GOODNIGHT MANGER that have been generously purchased by kind-hearted souls eager to bless those babies and their families is now approaching 450! 

And in the kindness begets kindness department, and because 450+ notes of encouragement is a lot of notes to hand-copy, I have been blessed with a team of friends and family who have offered to pitch in with the letter writing – leaving a space for me to sign.  These include:

• an 84 year old former preschool teacher
• my sister and her two kids, ages 10 and 13,
• a dear friend who I’ve known for ages (who has beautiful penmanship!)
• a wonderful friend who is also a NICU mom and was one of the first strangers to reach out to me with encouragement and prayer when our son was first born. (That’s how I met her!)
• a new friend who just loves and idea and wants to pitch in
• a lovely steward of a local Little Free Library who I met when I dropped a copy of LOVE IS KIND off there last year.  We have become friends and she is a NICU mom and is eager to pitch in a big way
• and I have a feeling more will join the team in the coming weeks.

I will send the hand-written, signed notes to Jessika. She will then distribute them to her team to be packaged with the books that have been donated. And it’s not just for a couple of NICUs. Her team is comprised of wonderful NICU mamas who have blessed by Jessika Sanders “Praying through the NICU” ministry. They are the ones who will hand deliver the packages to their respective NICUs in at least four states that span the nation!

Learn more about the Praying through the NICU ministry. Interested in being a part of the Christmas in the NICU book drive?  Press here.  (The book drives runs through 11/15/21.)

In closing, perhaps this post will inspire you to make a list of special people in your life (or complete strangers) that you might bless with a note of encouragement in the coming weeks.

Blessings all!

Back-to-School Offer: Celebrate KINDNESS with a Free Author Visit with LAURA SASSI

Back-to-School Time! In celebration of the POWER OF KINDNESS, I’m offering FIVE free 20-minute virtual* visits to classrooms, libraries, church groups, day-cares or homeschool co-ops. (*Note: Can be in-person if you are local.)

 If you are interested, reach out to me via the contact tab in the About section.

IMPORTANT DETAILS

For each FREE 20-minute virtual visit I will:

• Briefly introduce myself and describe what it means to be an author. I will also share the inspiration behind the book I will be sharing.
• Read LOVE IS KIND, LITTLE EWE or DIVA DELORES AND THE OPERA HOUSE MOUSE with a kindness take-away challenge for each.
• Use puppets to aid in the storytelling.
• Have a brief Q&A.

OPTIONAL: If you are interested in a longer virtual visit that includes a presentation of the journey a picture book takes from spark to publication, using early sketches, drafts and more, I also offer longer virtual visits that are fee-based. If a fuller visit interests you, please let me know that. My fees are reasonable and we will make the visit work to fit your budget.

Either way, I respectfully request that you or your school purchase a copy the book you select for your class library. I also request that book orders be made available to families so they can order books from the vendor of their/your choice.  I do not sell my books, but they are readily available through your favorite bookseller. I will provide a signed personally inscribed book plate for each book purchased. 

I look forward to spreading kindness in this special way this fall!  

Visits must be booked by December 1, 2021. Spots will fill quickly, so reach out to me soon via my contact tab in the About section. 

Happy Fall!

SNAIL MAIL BLESSINGS: Fostering KINDNESS the Old-Fashioned Way

In this age of instant texts and emails, I’ve been missing the special connection of a different kind of correspondence – the old-fashioned hand-written note. 

Beginning in my tweens through my twenties, I regularly wrote hand-written notes. Some were condolence letters. Some were thank you notes. Most were letters to friends in places I’d previously lived.  Many were letters to my now-husband of 29 years! All were written from the heart and they were my favorite way to connect across the miles.  

Each letter began with a connection point where I reminded the recipient how much I missed them or had been thinking about them. Then I would ask a question or two about how they were doing. Next, I’d share some of the meaningful things that were going on in my neck of the woods, often continuing a conversation thread from a letter I’d received from them.  I’d close with a reminder once again of how much they meant to me and how I looked forward to hearing from them. 

Looking back, I see there was an art to those letters and a special connection built through the bond of writing – an art and connection that I fear we are only a few texts and social media posts away from losing forever.

So now, with September just around corner, I’ve decided to shake the dust off my stationary stash and develop a new habit of writing one old-fashioned note once a week to someone special.

Would you like to join me in this letter writing journey, which I’m calling “Snail Mail Blessings”?  If so, please let me know in the comments section so we can encourage each other along the way.

Getting started is easy. Just grab paper, pen, a stamp and an envelope. Find a comfortable spot to write. Pause quietly for a moment and see if someone comes to mind – an old classmate perhaps, or a special aunt or uncle you haven’t written to in awhile. Maybe you know someone who needs a little boost of encouragement this week. Your heart will tell you when you’ve got the right person for this week. 

Then write the letter and send it the old-fashioned way- via snail mail.  

I hope that this challenge is a blessing to your week, as I know it will be to mine. And be on the look out in coming weeks for more thoughts and inspiration for ways we can bless those around us (and be blessed in return) through the simple act of writing letters and sending them the old-fashioned way.

Snail Mail Blessings to your and yours!

Laura 

FEELING BLESSED by a … BOUQUET!

This post fits squarely in the “celebrating life” category of this blog. I wrote it just now on my Facebook page, but feel moved to share it here as well. I hope the joy I felt as I wrote it comes through in the reading of it. And now, the post:

This lovely bouquet, which now sits in a vase on my porch, is a LOVELY reminder to me of what happens when we SLOW down and show KINDNESS in the places we find ourselves.

Here’s the story: I am all ready to check out at Trader Joe’s yesterday, so I pull my cart up to one of the check out lanes. The cashier welcomes me and says it will just be a moment. The customer before me (whose bags were already packed and ready to go) has remembered at the last minute that she needs coffee. She has promised it will be just a moment and has dashed off to get coffee. Well, it isn’t just a moment. It takes many moments. Many, many moments.

I’m tired and hungry and want to get home, but I’ve been working on slowing things down, allowing for margin, so I have time to connect with others and choose kindness. So, instead of complaining to the cashier, who I can tell is feeling bad about the situation, I say not to worry, and we fill the time with conversation.

Before the customer comes back, the check out line next to the one I am in opens up, and the cashier there invites me to check out in his line, which I do. While I am busy with that, the customer comes back. She’s had to wait for someone to grind the coffee, apparently. In my mind, it is not a big deal. But just as I am paying for my groceries, I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn and it’s the first cashier. She’s holding a bouquet for me. “Thank you,” she says. I’m stunned. The bouquet is not necessary, I say. But as I carry it out, I feel this overwhelming sense of joy at the positive human connection that is found when we take the time to both be a blessing to others and to allow ourselves to be blessed by others. My heart is full. And now, as I start my weekend, I wonder what other opportunities will come my way, and perhaps your way too. Blessings all!

LOVE IS KIND: FIVE TIPS for Fostering KINDNESS in our Kids

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I’m excited to share that a lovely little interaction on Twitter with a first grade teacher who shared how she had just read LOVE IS KIND to her students and tagged me – has resulted in an end of the year virtual school visit with the first graders at her school! I sometimes get discouraged  that all this social media socializing doesn’t seem to make a difference – but here’s a positive example of it working in a special way to make a very memorable experience for some first graders (and their parents and teachers) during these stressful times. I will let you know how it goes!

What makes this special visit extra special is that one of the very reasons I wrote LOVE IS KIND was to show in fun story form what love and kindness in action could look like. Now, in celebration of this teacher and her class, I thought it would be fun to share a few book-inspired tips to foster kindness in our kids. My hope is that they will inspire you and your little ones to follow in Little Owl’s footsteps and spread love and kindness near and far.

Tip #1: Be kind yourself. As Grammy from LOVE IS KIND would most certainly remind us, our little owls, I mean kids, are watching our every move. They are learning from us, seeing if our words match our actions. If we want them extend love and kindness to others, we must first be intentional about being kind ourselves in ways big and small.

Tip #2: Brainstorm ways to be kind. Little Owl was kind and loving every step of the way on his quest to get Grammy those chocolates, but he didn’t realize it until Grammy pointed it out. Sometimes reminders are helpful, so after reading the story, spend a few minutes brainstorming with your children some ways we can be kind to others. Consider having an older child write down your family’s ideas, then put them on the fridge as a visible daily reminder.

Tip #3: Make “good manners” a habit. Did you notice how polite Little Owl was throughout the story? And how good manners came so naturally to him? He said things like, “Have a good day!”, “Congratulations!” and “That’s nice.” I suspect Little Owl’s mama and papa and teacher were hard at work on a daily basis instilling those simple niceties. As parents (and grandparents) and caregivers, we can do the same with our kids so that when they are out and about those kind and friendly interactions are second nature.

Tip #4: Wear “kindness glasses.” I like to wrap up author visits by challenging the kids to be kind to those around them just like Little Owl. To help them remember this, I have them first hold their hands together so that thumbs and fingers touch to form a heart shape. I explain that these are their kindness glasses and I ask them to look through them every morning when they wake up and we all try it, which generates giggles all around. Then, while looking at them through my heart-shaped glasses, I challenge them to find at least one opportunity before the sun sets to extend kindness to another in an unexpected way. The silliness is part of the magic and it sets the tone for a good day. (Note: This tip pairs nicely with tip #2)

Tip #5: Catch each other being kind! Grammy caught Little Owl completely by surprise when she pointed out that he’d shown love and kindness along the way to Grammy’s house. And what was Little Owl’s reaction? He was thrilled! He realized HE was the gift and that his kindnesses towards others were better than any store-bought gift. Likewise, your children will be delighted when you notice their kind deeds. And this, I am certain, will spur them on to more and more and more! And that should make every parent’s heart sing. It sure makes mine!

Blessings to you and your kids as you lovingly instill in them hearts for spreading love and kindness.

Note: A version of this post previously appeared on Jean Matthew Hall’s delightful blog.  Please also enjoy her review of my book GOODNIGHT, MANGER, along with her rich archive of posts about both the writing and reading of picture books. And while you are there, be sure to check out her Bountiful Blessings Picture Book Series. Thank you, Jean!

LOVE IS KIND Valentine Blog Tour: STOP THREE

One of the reasons I wrote LOVE IS KIND was to show in fun story form what love and kindness in action could look like. And today I’m excited to be the guest of picture book author Jean Matthew Hall. Please join me over at her blog as we chat about ways to foster kindness in our kids. My hope is that our conversation will inspire you and your little ones to follow in Little Owl’s footsteps and spread love and kindness near and far. (Oh, and there’s a giveaway plus Jean has created a beautiful bookmark freebie!) I’ll make it easy for you. Here’s the link.