Mom’s Choice Awards® Names the Katie & Kimble Series by Linda Thieman among the Best in Family-friendly Media

The Mom’s Choice Awards® has named the Katie & Kimble (A Ghost Story) series by Iowa author Linda Thieman among the best in family-friendly media, products and services. The MCA is an annual competition known for establishing the benchmark of excellence in these areas.

When the great flu pandemic struck America’s shores in 1918, it took with it an estimated 675,000 men, women and children.

In her imaginative first book in the award-winning chapter book series, Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story, author Linda Thieman follows one of the young victims, named Kimble, and her nine-year-old friend, Katie, who just moved into Kimble’s old house.

Though ghostly in its viewpoint, the story does not fit into its genre’s stereotype. Rather, Thieman’s ghost is a funny, adventuresome little girl who not only helps Katie, but receives help from her friend in return.

Written to inspire the 7- to 10-year-old set, Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story is an educational adventure for the parental set, too, giving insight into the worldwide pandemic, Kimble’s Jewish customs, and even a bit about the supernatural.

Parents, educators, librarians and retailers rely on MCA evaluations when selecting quality materials for children and families. The Mom’s Choice Awards® seal helps families and educators navigate the vast array of products and services and make informed decisions.

MCA judges are bound by a strict code of ethics which ensures expert and objective analysis free from any manufacturer association. The evaluation process uses a propriety methodology in which entries are scored on a number of elements including production quality, design, educational value, entertainment value, originality, appeal and cost.

To be considered for an award, each entrant submits five identical samples of a product. Entries are matched to judges in the MCA database. Judges perform a thorough analysis and submit a detailed assessment. Results are compiled and submitted to the MCA Executive Committee for final approval.

The end result is a list of the best in family-friendly media, products and services that parents and educators can feel confident in using.

Other past Mom’s Choice Awards® recipients have included Meredith Vieira, Founder of Club Mom and Today Show Co-Host (Celebrity Mom of the Year) and O, The Oprah Magazine (Magazine of the Year).

Thieman graduated from Storm Lake Community High School and received a B.A. and an M.A. from the University of Northern Iowa. She now resides in Sioux City, Iowa.

For more information on the awards program and the honorees, visit MomsChoiceAwards.com

For more information on the Katie & Kimble series, visit http://www.katieandkimbleblog.com

I would like to personally congratulate Linda on winning this award. Her Katie & Kimble books are two of the only books my reluctant reader has been eager to read, and she’s already sending Linda ideas for future books.  LOL! This is a well-deserved honor and we wish Linda much success!

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Humberto, the Bookworm Hamster

Discover the joys of reading and friendship with Humberto, the Bookworm Hamster by Mayra Calvani.

Humberto doesn’t have time for friends. He’s too busy reading. His neighbors, the squirrel, the rabbit, the skunk, the hedgehog, and the beaver have all tried, but Humberto would rather read. Then one day disaster strikes, and Humberto must choose between saving his books and helping his neighbors.

I can’t hide the fact that I am a fan of Mayra Calvani’s books. All of them are so different from each other, but they all have a special quality that makes my family treasure them. With Humberto, the Bookworm Hamster, Calvani is able to show children a great appreciation for reading and how it helps to foster the gift of imagination, while at the same time, sharing the importance of friendship.

Humberto is faced with a difficult decision when he returns home to find that the river has overflowed and destroyed his beloved books. He can either try to salvage what is left or help his neighbors, many of who were either hurt or  had their homes destroyed. This encourages children to think of others, something that parents can appreciate.

Humberto and the other adorable animals who live in the woods were illustrated by Kit Grady, an artist whose work I truly have come to admire and enjoy. She has the ability to capture human emotions on the faces of these creatures in such a beautiful way. I love the picture of Humberto whispering to the frightened rabbit after the river has overflowed.

Humberto, the Bookworm Hamster is a delightful read that your child will enjoy!

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• Publisher:  Guardian Angel Publishing
• Print ISBN:  13: 978-1-935137-92-4 & ISBN 10: 1-935137-92-1
• eBook ISBN:  13: 978-1-935137-93-1  & ISBN 10: 1-935137-93-X
• SRP:  $10.95 (print), $9.95 (eBook CD), $5.00 (PDF download)



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Katydidn’t by Colleen Reece

Come read the story of the seven Witherspoon children, and how Katy discovered the secret of the katydids, in Katydidn’t by Colleen Reece.

The Witherspoon children love life on their little farm. Six out of the seven children are spending the summer doing things they love. But not Katy. She doesn’t want to do the things that her brothers and sisters are doing. She’s sad and lonely. Until one day, she remembers how Jesus tells us to treat others the way we want to be treated. Praying to be different, Katy finally discovers the secret of what the katydids sing to lull her family to sleep each night.

Everything about this book is beautiful.  From the stunning cover art to the touching and memorable story inside, from the meaningful lesson the book shares to the how artist K.C. Snider brought the Witherspoon family and their farm to life, there is so much to love in this story.

Getting along can be difficult for children. The perfect blend of flowing prose, nature, and Biblical wisdom will  find your child picking up this book time and again.  The leaf accents that adorn the front cover can also be found on the first page that shares the story of the katydids, and on some of the other inside pages, tying all the elements together.

This book is one that I will definitely consider adding to our Sunday school classroom. Katydidn’t is a touching story with a meaningful lesson that you and your child can both enjoy.

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• Publisher:  Guardian Angel Publishing
• PRINT: 978-1-61633-021-7;  97816163321X
• EBOOK: 978-1-61633-022-4; 978161633228
• SRP:  $10.95 (Print), $5,95 (CD), $5.00 (download)



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Tilly’s Tale by Harry Porter

Children and parents will enjoy Tilly’s Tale by Harry Porter, the heartwarming story of a rescued dog who finds love and a new purpose in life.

When Tilly’s owner becomes ill and is no longer able to care for her, the man’s son brings Tilly to his own house, where she is mistreated by his wife and ignored. Scared and uncertain, Tilly’s life takes an unexpected turn when she is dropped off at the sanctuary and adopted by a new family that includes two other rescued dogs.

Told in Tilly’s words, this is a story of hope restored and one dog’s journey to find love again.

In this well-written, inspiring tale, readers get a glimpse into animal abuse and neglect from a dog’s point of view. That scared me at first, as I was wondering how young people would handle it. I feel the author did an excellent job of showing the reader the emotional ride Tilly finds herself on after her beloved owner falls ill. I believe many of these emotions are ones that children will easily relate to.

Even though, at 8, my daughter is slightly younger than the target market for Tilly’s Tale, which is readers ages 9 to 12, she was able to not only understand what was happening, but also be touched by Tilly’s story.

Tilly’s Tale could also be read as a family, which could open discussions for the level of responsibilities involved in caring for a pet. Your family will cheer when Tilly is adopted by the author and his wife, and once again finds the love and appreciation such a special dog deserves.

Mandy Hedrick provided the illustrations for this book. I couldn’t get over how well she captured the essence of Tilly. If you go out to the author’s website, you’ll find pictures of Tilly, and the many other rescue dogs the author and his wife have brought home. Tilly’s Tale was just voted Best Children’s Book in the Preditors & Editors Reader’s Poll for 2009. The book also received the award for Best Artwork in the Preditors & Editors Reader’s Poll for 2009.

Porter and 4RV Publishing plan to release additional stories of rescued dogs as part of Harry Porter’s Dog Tales series. I look forward to seeing more of these books. 

Tilly’s Tale is one story that every member of your family will love!

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Publisher: 4RV Publishing LLC

ISBN-10: 0981868592

ISBN-13: 978-0981868592

SRP:  $10.99

 

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Guardian Angel Kids Launch!

 

Guardian Angel Publishing has announced the launch of Guardian Angel Kids, an online interactive ezine for kids! This new ezine is designed for “healthy and safe entertainment for 2-12 year old children, featuring games and activities” from Guardian Angel books and characters.

Everyone at Guardian Angel is excited about this new endeavor, including me! When I first wrote Obed’s story, which will be released by Guardian Angel this fall under the title of Little Shepherd, I only had Guardian Angel in mind as a potential publisher. I had read several of their books and knew I wanted them to be involved in bringing Obed and his story to young readers. I was thrilled when I heard they wanted to put it under contract.

Please visit the Guardian Angel Kids website, where you and your children can listen to an introduction from our Angel Geko named Gak, and browse through the games, stories, and free downloads available in our January 2010 issue.  Meet our Creative Crew and review our Submission Guidelines.

We hope you enjoy the debut issue of Guardian Angel Kids and bookmark our site so that you can come back often.

Troy Truck Explores Maui by Julyn Watkins

Tap dancing crabs, hockey playing reef shark pups, and hula dancing seals are just some of the animals your young reader will discover in the rhyming story of Troy Truck Explores Maui by Julyn Watkins.

Troy Truck is a solar-powered and eco-friendly monster truck who loves animals, traveling, and making new friends. Troy Truck decides to take a trip to the lovely Hawaiian island of Maui, where he snorkles, swims, drives the Road to Hana, and discovers some new animal friends.

Not only is Troy Truck Explores Maui a great way to teach your children about one of Hawaii’s islands, they’ll learn about the animals that live there, and the beauty of nature. The illustrations provided by Mandy Hedrick are absolutely beautiful, even when depicting a purple octopus playing a ukulele. But these illustrations will also delight your young children by bringing Troy Truck, the animals, and Maui to life in a plethora of colors.  The book is also printed on recycled paper.

An outstanding book with so much to offer, your three- to eight-year-old will enjoy these adorable characters and be looking for more Troy Truck adventures.

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• Publisher: TJW Books
• ISBN:  978-0-9824838-0-0
• SRP:  $16.95

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Reading Habits of Children

I was talking last week about my daughters’ reading preferences. One other thing came to mind as I was going through the list of books each daughter purchased from Scholastic this month:  the younger one who loves reading bought books that are mostly too difficult for her to read, while my reluctant reader purchased books that she could easily read.

 

Why is that? And should this be of concern to me?

I want the youngest to challenge herself, but I wonder if she will get frustrated when she can’t read them on her own, which she desperately wants to do. Is it a bad thing that the older one who has struggled with reading up until this year chooses books that she will be able to read easily or is it a better way to build her self-esteem?

Only in rare moments do I guide their book selections, even though if we are together I will make suggestions I feel are most appropriate for them.

How about you? Do you let your children pick what they want or do you influence their decisions based upon what you feel is best for them? Are you ever concerned that your children are selecting books that are too far above or below their reading level?

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Castle in the Mist by Robert J. McCarty

Book 2 in the Planet of the Dogs series finds the dogs and Daisy and Bean up against another threat to peace, love and happiness.

In a castle surrounded at night by a mysterious mist, Prince Ukko rules. The young prince, angry and hurt over the sudden loss of his father, whose fate is unknown, Ukko and his soldiers make war against neighboring peoples. When the traitorous Urch brothers, kidnap Nik and Nikki, the children of Bik, leader of the Stone City tribe, a year of peace that has reigned for the Stone City tribe is threatened.

Will the dogs and Daisy and Bean be able to help rescue Nik and Nikki from the Castle in the Mist before it is too late for them to stop the Stone City warriors from unwillingly going to battle against Prince Ukko and his Black Hawk tribe?

I’m impressed with the second book in the Planet of the Dogs series. Perhaps the smoothest flowing out of all three books, many of the charaters that readers have heard about in the first book, return in Castle in the Mist for another adventure. While still relying heavily on narration to move the story along, we see the results of what happened in Book 1 and how many of the characters work together to try and prevent the Stone City tribe from returning to their ways of war to rescue Nik and Nikki from the castle in the mist.

There are many new characters to enjoy as well: the healers, Sola and Anga, the Douglas family, and many new dogs who have journeyed from the Planet of the Dogs by Miss Merrie and the dog council’s orders to help remind the people of earth about love, peace, and friendship.

Having read all three books now, I have a better feel for the author’s vision for this series–at least, I hope I do. The illustrations provided by Stella M. McCarty add a great deal to the story.

I look forward to many more books in the Planet of Dogs series.

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Publisher: Barking Planet Productions

ISBN-10: 0978692810

ISBN-13: 978-0978692810

SRP:  $14.95

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Planet of the Dogs by Robert J. McCarty

This is where it all began. Planet of the Dogs is the first in the Planet of the Dogs series of books by Robert J. McCarty.

The story begins “long, long ago” before dogs had ever come to Planet Earth. Many people helped settle the many beautiful areas of this planet, but with abundance came greed, and soon the people of Earth were threatened by warriors like the tribes of Stone City who had forgotten about love and friendship. Instead these warriors hurt people and stole from them.

Miss Merrie, queen on the Planet of Dogs, along with the dog council, decide that something must be done; that some dogs will journey to the Planet Earth to remind the people of Earth about love and friendship, in the hopes that they can all live in peace.

In this introduction to the Planet of the Dogs series, the Stone City warriors are set on invading Green Valley, where Tomas and Sara live with their children, Daisy and Bean. That is, until Daisy and Bean meet Lucy, Robbie, and Buddy from the Planet of the Dogs. The children journey to the Planet of the Dogs and learn of the dogs’ plan to restore peace. Is it possible that such strange creatures can convince Bik, the leader of the Stone City warriors, that all people can live in peace?

Having already read, the third book in this series, Snow Valley Heroes, I was looking forward to seeing how the dogs had originally come to Earth. This book, like the others in this series, relies heavily on narration, as it is meant to be a story that is shared and read aloud.  Actually, I think these would make excellent books to use in the classroom, as the concepts of problem solving, acceptance, and tolerance flows through all three of the Planet of the Dogs books.

If you love dogs, enjoy fantasy, and like to share stories with the family, Planet of the Dogs will certainly be a good choice for you.

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Publisher: Barking Planet Productions

ISBN-10: 0978692802

ISBN-13: 978-0978692803

SRP:  $14.95

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