Book Review: Janoose the Goose 06/10/2011 3 Comments   JANOOSE THE GOOSE     Picture Book Age Group: 3-6 Written and Illustrated by:  J.D Holiday Publisher: Book Garden Publishing, LLC. Introducing Janoose Janoose is an absent-minded, bespectacled goose with a sweet disposition. Her visit to Free Range Farm where her cousin Molly the Duck lives changes her life forever. Janoose loves the quiet farm life and hopes she could stay on. But sadly, there are no jobs at the farm for a honking goose. When Janoose sees a flight of geese flying overhead, she realizes her vacation is over. It’s time to get back home where she has a job, honking the ships in at the lighthouse. The final flight leaves tomorrow, so Janoose had better hurry! [The last time she missed her flight and flew home by herself, it was pure disaster! Her glasses fell off, she lost her way and it took her ages to get back to work.] Trouble at the barnyard Half-heartedly, Janoose starts packing. But all is not well at the barnyard… there’s a wicked fox on the prowl! Contrary to what the farm animals think, the fox is not looking to make Duck Soup. Why is he lurking around, then? What is he after? Read the book to see how Janoose the Goose unravels the mystery and saves the farm.   Author and Illustrator J.D Holiday presents a simple tale (with a twist!) that is beautifully narrated. Holiday’s illustrations are bright and colorful and she also introduces clever little details that take the reader right into Free Range Farm… to the view from Janoose’s room up on the loft, to Scarecrow’s changing facial expressions and to the finale by the lake. Janoose the Goose is an ideal bedtime storybook. With her funny dialogues and witty repartees, Janoose will be a definite favorite with children.  Wait, there’s more! Janoose and the Fall Feather Fair is scheduled to be released soon! J.D. Holiday’s forthcoming books: The Spy Game (for children) Short Stories and Other Imagining For The Reading Spot (for adults) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ JANOOSE THE GOOSE can be bought at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0981861407/ref=nosim?tag=bookgardpubl-20 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About J.D Holiday: J.D. Holiday is the author and illustrator of a picture book, Janoose the Goose and a chapter book, The Great Snowball Escapade.  She has authored a chapbook of short stories titled Trespasses (1994). She has also had numerous articles about writing and publishing and short stories published in literary magazines. She is a co-host on What a Success with V.S. Grenier at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/worldofinknetwork/ She is a member of both The Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and Small Publishers of North America (SPAN) She lives in the Delaware Valley of Pennsylvania, USA. For more information on J.D. Holiday and where to buy her books visit her website: http://www.thebookgarden.net J.D. Holiday blogs at: http://jdswritersblog.blogspot.com   Book Review: Muscles Make Us Move 22/08/2011 6 Comments   MUSCLES MAKE US MOVE:  THE SUM OF OUR PARTS SERIES (Book 3) Picture Book:  Rhyming, Non-Fiction, Science Age Group: 8-13 years Author: Bill Kirk Illustrator: Eugene Ruble Publisher:  Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.,  Academic Wings imprint The Sum of Our Parts is a series of rhyming, non-fiction picture books focusing on fundamental concepts of science. This series is ideal for early learners who are presented with scientific terminology in anatomical systems for the first time, particularly in the fifth through the eighth grades. Muscles Make Us Move, the third book in the series, teaches the names, physical locations and functions of major muscle groups in the human body.  The layout of the text combines simple and witty rhymes with factoids on each page.  Bill Kirk’s conversational style of writing will appeal to young readers and make it easier for them to understand basic scientific facts. Kirk cleverly interjects humor into the text which will help children remember difficult-sounding anatomical terms.  Eugene Ruble’s anatomically precise and neatly labeled color illustrations act as a great tool for visual learning. The book is accompanied by a detailed glossary of terms. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All the books in this series are available for purchase from the Guardian  Angel Publishing Bookstore in three formats - Print, eBook and on CD.  The book covers below are links to the book preview pages. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Muscles Make Us Move  The Sum of Our Parts Series, Book 3 Circulation Celebration The Sum of Our Parts Series, Book 2 No Bones About It The Sum of Our Parts Series, Book 1   Book Review: The Land of the Flowered Bed 07/06/2011 3 Comments   THE LAND OF THE FLOWERED BED The Land of the Flowered Bed Chapter Book Written by Miranda Pike Koerner Illustrated by Marie Rayner Mr. Herbert B. Gasbumble’s toyshop is quite unlike any other. For Gasbumble’s toys are magical! Metal cars that zoom, sock puppets and marionettes that perform a jig, porcelain dolls and toy soldiers that chatter and laugh, stuffed hippos, elephants and teddy bears that play Hide-and-Seek. Specially crafted by the old toymaker, these magical toys have enchanted generations of children. Mr. Gasbumble’s great-granddaughter marvels at how her Grandpa creates the toys and longs to hear the story of how the shop came to be. Mr. Gasbumble decides to tell her and thus begins the tale of The Land of the Flowered Bed. Hairy the Hedgehog – once an unhappy, uncared for toy, now Mayor of The Land of the Flowered Bed, Pumble – a love-struck bumblebee who loves to cook, and Cookies – an owl with a fondness for mouse-muffins(!) are some of the delightful critters that live in this magical land. Marie Rayner’s illustrations perfectly complement Miranda Koerner’s imaginative characterizations. With their laugh-out-loud antics and zany adventures, Koerner’s characters are sure to keep young readers hooked until the end, which indeed seems to come all too soon.  “Another time.  Another tale.”  Just like Mr. Gasbumble’s great-granddaughter in the book, the last chapter   ‘Not Quite an Ending’, will definitely leave children waiting impatiently for the next instalment that promises to uncover the secret of The Land of the Flowered Bed. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Miranda Koerner's books are available for purchase here. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Interview with Miranda Koerner 05/06/2011 10 Comments   Meet Miranda Koerner, Children's Author Miranda Koerner’s adorable characters, effortless humor, and enchanting worlds of fantasy have captured the imagination and won the hearts of her many loyal readers.  ‘Creative’ and ‘whimsical’ describes this young writer from Texas perfectly. Miranda loves writing poetry, short stories, Middle Grade and Young Adult fiction. Welcome, Miranda! You are my first guest on Quill Pens and Palette Knives!  Thanks!  It’s so sweet of you to ask me (blushing). I knew I should have worn a better dress. When I was 3 years old, inspired by the nursery rhyme See the Engine Driver, I thought driving trains was the coolest job in the world! Did you, even as a child, aspire to become a writer?  I don’t know when I realized I was suited for no other purpose than writing stories, but my mom has boxes of ‘books’ I wrote out of stapled computer paper illustrated by colored pencil.  I also had several notebooks I carried around with me that I wrote stories of children having adventures in on tumulus field trips – all in my terrible 4th grade cursive! Stapled computer paper?! And I thought I was the only one who did that!                                                                                       Who are your favorite children’s authors? What are your all-time favorite children’s books? BFG and anything by Roald Dahl; A Wrinkle in Time, A Ring of Endless Light, And Both Were Young,  Many Waters by Madeline L’Engle; The AI series and countless others (too many to list) by Bruce Coville.  How have they influenced your writing? Each author has influenced me in different ways:  Roald Dahl for his whimsy, creativity and humorous prose, Madeline L’Engle for her beautiful storytelling and relatable characters and Bruce Coville for his humor and creative plots.  Which book do you regard as your ‘coming of age’ book?  I suppose Twirl, the story of Vivi, the ballerina, and Wade, the young man she falls in love with at a dance hall.  I wrote it as a serial on my blog.  But Vivi is 18, so she’s not exactly coming of age – more like discovering who she is without the shadow of her suppressive parents and dance teacher. What do you enjoy writing more – Young Adult or Middle Grade fiction? How different and difficult is it to write for such a wide range of age groups?  I’m probably naïve for saying this, but I don’t think it’s really difficult.  Each category has its own challenges, just like each age does.  It’s like saying is life harder when you’re 9 or 16 – at that moment, whatever problems you’re having are the end of the world and the biggest issue there is.  Five years later, you might look back and think how ridiculous you were, but at that moment, it’s important.  Stories are merely about a moment, a slice of time. That was beautifully put, Miranda. You are such a prolific writer. It’s remarkable how you get such a steady flow of ideas. Do share your secret with us!   Each story idea is a gift and I fear the day I stop being blessed with them.  Losing my ability to churn out ideas and come up with stories is one of my biggest fears. That’s so true. I’m sure most of us who are involved with the creative arts feel the same way.  Do you have a favorite among all the books that you have written? Also, do you have a favorite character among the ones that you have created?  Priscilla Piper from Twelve Tales of Christmas is a long time favorite, as is Vivi from Twirl and Miss Pickles.  But like the old cliché, I really do love most of my characters.  I find each character is a tiny part of me and my dreams. Miss. Pickles is my favorite too! I’m sure there is an interesting story behind the creation of this endearing and unconventional substitute teacher…  When I first graduated college, I wanted to be an elementary or middle grade English teacher because I was so burned out on journalism.  The last thing I wanted to do was public relations (my major) forever.  I wanted to do something creative, something with children.  But as I looked into getting my teaching degree, I realized standardized testing and all sorts of red tape wouldn’t let me do the creative teaching I envisioned.   I was really frustrated about this, and Miss Pickles was born from that when I was in the shower ranting to myself one day. Yes, I know ranting to oneself in the shower is not the most sane approach to life. LOL!  I love the Never-Ending Stories on your blog. What can the readers of your blog look forward to in the near future?  I just started a new serial on my blog, The Butterfly Dress.  Currently, I’m finishing a YA and MG manuscript to be sent off for possible publication.  (Hint, hint… any editors and agents!)   Best of luck with the submissions!  Do you think an education specific to literature/ creative writing is essential to become a writer?  No. In most cases, I think it strips individuals of creativity.  I think you should take classes, sure.  But don’t base your entire education on it, because you’ll think and write that way.  The best education I get is to read, read, and read.  All I read is YA and MG books.  What is your advice for children who aspire to become writers?  Read, watch, dance or take long walks outside and dream.  Be whimsical and free – don’t listen to the mean voice in your head telling you your words are stupid and ridiculous.  And keep lots of pie or ice cream in the freezer for when you get rejection letters, and a treadmill to burn off the rejection letters.  Do you have a favorite writing place or time?  Sunday mornings, when the world is asleep right before the sun rises.  It’s sacred to me.  Apart from writing, what else do you love to do?  I hate to admit it, but I’m a workout fanatic.  I love running, strength training, kickboxing, aerobics…I find that physical activity really helps keep my creativity humming.  I’ve been known to leap off the treadmill and jot story ideas down.  And lately, I’ve started dancing twice a week at a Zumba studio.  I love to dance.  I dance everyday.    A young woman, who works as an editor in a newspaper office by day, and doubles up as a master chef at home whipping up delectable dishes, and a prolific writer who delights the readers of her blog with wonderful stories and poems every single day. How do you manage to balance your work and writing effectively?   My husband is really good at letting me know when I’m not!  To be honest, it’s something I struggle with daily.  I am a very obsessive personality, and if I like something I want to do it all the time.  I like a lot of things, and I tend to think that I can do a million things in one hour on little sleep.  This year, I took a step back and decided to focus on quality over quantity.  I was really close to burn out, and it was a big wake up call.  So unfortunately, I can’t advise anyone on balance, because I’m still trying to get there.  Miranda, it’s been a pleasure having you on Quill Pens and Palette Knives. Thank you so much. I wish you every success with your upcoming books!  Stay tuned, for a book review of Miranda Koerner’s The Land of the Flowered Bed.  Meanwhile, you can read Miranda’s short stories and serialized novels on her website A Duck in Her Pond.

Quill Pens  and  Palette Knives Interviews of Writers and Illustrators of Children's Literature Book Reviews  Resources for Writers and Illustrators Archives October 2011 August 2011 June 2011 Categories All Book Reviews Illustrators Interviews Writers RSS Feed Copyright © 2011 by Kavitha Punniyamurthi.  All rights reserved.

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