I have uploaded the connection details for Kim Marie right up top because it helps to explain the title of today's blog post!

Kim Marie started creating her first book over 30 years ago, but as a single mom with a full time career--well, we all know how that goes right? There is not enough time in the day to do everything, let along write that book! However, she persisted with finishing the words and illustrations and put them in a binder. That binder sat on a shelf for a few years until she was about to become a grandmother. Then things changed.

Kim created a digital photo book of the work for a baby shower gift for her granddaughter. Several young moms at the shower saw the gift and said they wanted one and so it began!

I may be incorrect, but I believe that was A to Z Animal Picnic. Created over 30 years before when her son was three, Kim had realized that he could count and say the ABC's as well as identify shapes, colors, animals and letters. Her thoughts were that with only two years before he started kindergarten, what could she teach him now? 

She thought reading, but he first needed to know the sounds of the letters. She hunted for a book with an interesting story that would help bridge this gap but didn't find one. The options were books which featured pages with a letter and lots of disconnected words, or a cute story but only one word on the page that began with that letter.

She thought about writing one, but settled for Dr. Seuss' ABC Book. Then when her daughter reached that same stage she thought, "Darn, I should have written that book!" Again she was busy and settled for Dr. Seuss.  

Eventually, though, she started writing it down and kept it safe. Then started to add some illustrations. Kim is happy to report, however, that despite taking so long to write her book, her children have managed to grow up and learn to read.

A to Z Animal Picnic is an alliterative adventure that will astound you! With charming illustrations and story segments dedicated to words beginning with each letter, it is not just an alphabet book!
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The story unfolds with animals participating in a potluck picnic! So there's a tale to follow encouraging reading and not just sounding out words.

Featuring end pages full of tongue twisters and more, you will also find counting activities as no picnic is complete without ants. More and more ants arrive on each page providing counting fun as well!

A Giraffe Who Makes You Laugh will have you in giggles as the Giraffe really does make you laugh. Funny rhyming comparisons and brightly coloured illustrations make this one a winner for the kids as well!

This book took less time to come together than the 30 years Kim spent on the alphabet sounds story. She was thinking about words that are difficult to rhyme and the word "giraffe" popped into her head. When she realized that "giraffe" and "laugh" rhymed, she got to concocting and sure enough--out came a story! 

I asked Kim what she is working on next and she had a couple of projects in the works but another children's picture book she has titled Something is Different is in development.

For more on Author Kim Marie, please use the links in the image at the top of this blog post! You'll be glad you did!

They say to never Google yourself. When you Google yourself you will usually find things you didn't want to know like your grade 11 yearbook photo (OMG, the perm!), the details of your firing from Baskin Robbins for abusing the "all you can eat" staff policy (they were asking for it..."all you can eat" implied zero limitations), and even details of that surgery you had (where you assumed you haddoctor patient confidentiality but signed the consent form without reading it first).

Well I did it. I Google'd myself. But not really, I Google'd my book titles. And Google is my friend today.

What I learned:

•  My books have gone beyond Amazon, and Barnes & Noble to reach some smaller book selling chain stores
• My books have been added to the inventory of several Indie book sellers
  
• My books are on offer from at least one chain in the UK, one in Denmark, and one in Turkey...that's right,  Google, I'm GLOBAL!

It was fun and affirming that my books are gaining notice, and gave me warm fuzzies to be able to show my Very Patient Dave (you remember him from earlier blog postings) that all his eye rolling is not in vain!

But the most gratifying part of it, once the buzz wore off, was that no matter where Google found my titles--finding them in the hands of giggling children is still way more fun.

So Google at your peril. You might find good news but then again, there's that photo of you with the braces in grade 9!!!  

Born in Dunedin, New Zealand, Diana has loved reading since a very early age when she would hear her mother and sister reading aloud stories by A.A. Milne and Beatrix Potter. "These authors inspiredand influenced me greatly. Their beautiful words took me to another world as a child, where anythign was possible. Their work greatly encouraged me to dream of becoming a writer myself someday," says Diana Smith.

The founder of "Books to Inspire - Inspiring Young Minds", she specialises in writing for early childhood and young readers. Diana likes to focus on emotional intelligence and key life concepts. Mindfulness. She prides herself on books that are inclusive and encouraging to all readers.
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My Welcome Book is a lovely book with simple illustrations by Sarah Jane Marchant. It is a delightful way to welcome a new baby. For bedtime or anytime reading, it will help enforce how special your little one is and how special those around them are. Celebrating uniqueness and following your dreams, it is sure to bring a little acceptance and joy to every little heart that reads it.
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My Awareness Book  is full of inspiration and learning for young people on being aware. Not just self-aware, but aware of their surroundings and others. Beautifully written and illustrated, I fully endorse this book.
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I asked Diana what was next on her writing horizon and she indicates that she is working  on two books for teenagers who struggle to read. One is about camping and one is about a school first dance. ​

I asked her if she could meet and discuss writing with her favourite children's author, livign or dead, who would that be and what would she ask them?

Diana responded that she would want to speak with Beatrix Potter to learn how she came up with the characters. Also she would ask how the books became so well known, as Diana would like her books to be as well known as those of Miss Potter.

Well Diana, I think you are already on your way.

​If you want to get to know more about Diana her website is in the image below.

Jean Johnson has been hard at work creating some fun travelling adventures with some very cool facts for your little ones!

The title I recently picked up was Rynnie Roo and Tater, too! Yucatan. It was a fun book.

Rynnie Roo and Tater Tot, the parakeet, love to explore together. While they are travelling, they uncover fun facts about animals, plants, languages, and even how to use our manners! Bright illustrations punctuate the book. 

I had the chance to get to know Jean a little bit better and this is what I found out!

Jean was actually raised in the Yucatan jungle, in the Mayan village of Senor. She had some very exotic pets growing up her including jaguars, an anteater and a sloth.

Jean felt the push to step into writing when her granddaughter was born. She thought about how different her granddaughter's childhood would be to her own. So Jean decided to create a world where she could share her own adventures and experience in a fun way.

Jean's granddaughter is a redhead who always has a big red bow in her hair and so Rynnie Roo the Kangaroo is modelled on her.

Jean's grandson was the inspiration for Tater Tot the Parakeet (who almost ended up being a PARROT!) 

The format of her stories was to help with learning. Jean struggled with school when she was younger and found that a story format made it more fun and engaging when it came to facts.

Jean has some experience with marketing and advertising which helped give her to the tools and experience to create and build the books she writes. She does all her own storyboards and designs, but she did commission her main characters.

There are several Rynnie Roo adventures out there but when asked what is next there was laugher. Currently working on the Zona Maya but plans to cover all 50 of the United States in time! That's a lot of travel for a kangaroo and a parakeet!

Some fun facts that will make this super-woman more human:

• Jean is a mystery buff who loves Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• Her favourite TV programs are "Murder She Wrote", "Perry Mason", and even some Charlie Chan...
• She loves to listen to 1940s music while driving in her car

With all that said, Jean joked she should be writing period pieces and not children's books. Maybe that's next?

​In the meantime, check out her books and her website with the details in the contact image! I hope to see more Rynnie Roo Adventures coming our way soon!