This week was, for me, an almost nonstop 60,000 foot view of the social media landscape, with occasional hovering over content that caught my attention. I did everything online marketing experts advise against — spending too much time exploring at the expense of writing. My social media travels, however, did accomplish a few really important and practical goals:

My Bloggers Read Across the Globe (BRAG) Facebook Fan Page “likes” increased 23% in 4 days. Okay, the actual numbers are small, but it’s measurable growth nevertheless. The increase came directly from relationship building — reaching out to friends, finding new ones through connections and contacts, and asking people to “like” my Facebook Page. Though I don’t enjoy the asking, I was thrilled at the response. Most everyone does enjoy reciprocity — relationship building at its best. 

I found some really enticing LinkedIn discussions, Facebook interactions and content-rich blog posts. I’d like to share a wonderful video from The Book Marketing Network that I came across yesterday – an interview with John Kremer by Joel Friedlander, two of my favorite online book marketing gurus. It crystallizes much of the information, scattered on the Internet, geared toward independent authors, book publishing and marketing. So, I hovered and listened to their discussion about social media prospects for 2012. Joel includes links to websites he and John refer to, and their casual interaction was a refreshing change from many of the sales pitch videos I watched that promise the holy grail of online marketing.

This video captures, for me, pearls of wisdom, insights and perspectives about social marketing in 2012. Thanks to Joel and John for sharing — I’m glad I spent the time on this one!

Share and Enjoy

Preparing a Virtual Book Tour (VBT) takes time and focus. Here are some tips for planning and organizing a VBT:

1. Create a planning calendar.There are so many steps involved in setting up a VBT that a calendar of tasks becomes essential. Using a checklist of TO-DOs, with dates and descriptions is a great tool for staying on track. Also include the names, websites and email addresses of guest hosts, and update the list frequently as you contact hosts and receive feedback. I use a calendar template from Microsoft Word to fill in each day’s guest post information.

2. Start planning at least 3 months in advance of your VBT launch. Since this is my first VBT, I had to learn the steps involved. I read lots of great info about book tours, aka blog tours, but the best prep was taking D’vorah Lansky’s guided online course, Virtual Book Tours Made Easy. The course materials and interactive webinars provided a practical roadmap for completing tasks and setting up the tour within one month of the course start date. This structured approach really helped me clarify my goals and strategies. Also wonderful were all the tips and insights from the interview I conducted with John Kremer. I’ll be posting D’vorah’s interview with me, and my interview with John here during the tour (click on Events for dates).

3. Clearly identify your target audience. I have multiple target audiences, so it’s a bit tricky coalescing around a central theme. First, I wanted to support the National Association’s annual Read Across America Project in March that promotes children’s reading and literacy. As a children’s book author, my target audience includes parents, teachers, libraries — similar to Read Across America. But I also aimed for broader exposure by creating my own VBT theme: Bloggers Read Across the Globe (BRAG). There are many wonderful book marketing experts online with fabulous websites and blogs about book promotion. Partnering with key experts provided an opportunity to expand my target audience via their loyal fans and subscribers.

4. Reach out to targeted guest hosts. As I honed in on my VBT goals, I started reaching out to potential guest hosts: mommy bloggers, children’s book authors, and book marketing experts. I tapped into my social media network groups and connections, sent email messages describing BRAG, and requested  participation. I suggested ideas for articles I’d post on their sites during the tour — content geared specifically to their readers’ interests. The response was even better than I anticipated, so I think the key here is visiting those sites often, subscribing to their RSS feeds, and becoming familiar with their target niche.

5.  Write content for posts as early as possible. BRAG begins February 28, 2012, so I have 26 days to write 10 of the 20 total articles — this includes preparation of podcast interviews. The topics have been identified and approved by my guest hosts (#4 above). Now, the looming task on my calendar is write, write, write! As soon as I draft each article, I’ll send it to the guest host for review. Remember to follow their guest post guidelines which can be found on their websites. If no submission guidelines are published, be sure to ask before writing!

6. Begin promoting your VBT on social media networks. I started a Facebook Page: Bloggers Read Across America (BRAG) to announce the tour and I post frequent updates about the event to garner interest, support and participation. I also announce on LinkedIn groups and Twitter. Building “buzz” for your tour in advance of launch date is key to accomplishing your VBT goals.

So, what are my VBT goals? One purpose of conducting a VBT is to maximize exposure for your book, so of course I hope the tour results in visitors to my website and new subscribers. Second, I hope to raise awareness about children’s reading and literacy — while Read Across America occurs in March, BRAG will become an ongoing effort to share information and ways to get involved in fostering love of reading among children.

How would you like to participate in BRAG? Do you have a children’s book you’d like to contribute as a giveaway? An article to write about literacy. A school project to share? I invite and encourage you to leave a comment with ideas and suggestions! There will be super prizes and giveaways on the last day of BRAG for the top 5 commenters (# of comments posted here and/or on guest host sites) during the tour. Why not start today!

Share and Enjoy

Feature your book in a video trailer!

I’ve received a lot of questions about how I made the video trailer for Sunbelievable.  I thought I’d share the steps I used to create and share it.  Video trailers are a great way to promote books 24/7! The steps may appear somewhat linear, but it’s more a back-and-forth, fluid process between one step and another. If you have an idea for the “gestalt” of the video, go with your instinct for starters. What is it about your book you want to emphasize and feature? I’d love to hear your ideas and questions, so please leave a comment.

1. Write the script. Since trailers are generally less than 2 minutes, there’s a lot to pack in. Some of the free video creation software programs (mentioned below) allow only a 60 second video for free, but that may be just the right amount of time for your trailer. Mine is just under 2 minutes. What impression do you want to make that will entice viewers to read your book? It isn’t necessary to “tell” the story, per se.  A good, crisp script highlights the essential story elements and builds interest quickly. Notice that I used very few words and let the images do the “talking.” It helped to read the script to willing listeners who offered constructive feedback. I wanted the first sentence of my script to draw attention in sync with the images and sound. Once the script is drafted, you can always revise it after adding graphics and music.

2. Select graphics and images. I used illustrations from Sunbelievable for the video, since I created them and own the raw files. However, there are free sources for good quality images. Depending on the overall look and feel you want to achieve, search Google or Bing for free photos and artwork. Make certain your selections are copyright- and royalty-free.

Another source is iStock Photo for a library of high quality, royalty free stock photography and images. Though not a free source, there are pricing options and millions of images. I added digital elements from scrapbooking kits I purchased online. For my video, one source was StudioGraphics. I have no formal training as an artist, but discovered how to create illustrations in Photoshop by blending my own photographs with digital elements available in kits. Be sure to check the company’s policies on commercial use rights for digital artwork, as some require a license. I went a step further and obtained written permission from the digital artists via signed contractual agreement.

3. Choose music. I was fortunate to have a talented young musician, Jeffrey DiLucca at MrFilmScore, create an original score for my trailer. After I completed Steps #1 and #2, we sat together and looked at the sequence of images. We thought through the musical accompaniment — style, rhythm, pace — that would complement the image layout. If you don’t have a musician handy, a fantastic source for music is 300Monks where you can find royalty-free music to suit any type of trailer — from children’s books to documentaries. Another source is Creative Commons that allows you to legally use “some rights reserved” music, movies, images and other content — all free. 

4. Create the trailer. Putting it all together is challenging, but if you’ve worked your way through Steps #1-3, you’re ready to make the trailer a reality. I used a sophisticated software program purchased from Photodex ProShow Producer. I’d been doing some promotional videos for different types of companies and found the software well-suited to those particular needs. But, there are free video creation programs that produce very good quality trailers.

For MAC users, iMovie is built-in software that’s easy to navigate. PC users have access to Windows Movie Maker with many video capabilities. Other free sources are available. Check out these 5 great sites: Animoto, Stupeflix, Muvee Cloud, FlixTime, and Masher. Each has its own unique features and options, including upgrades and music.

5. Share it. YouTube is one of the most popular online communication sites, allowing users to upload and make videos available to the public — for free. You can post videos to your own “channel,” embed them on your blog, and share with others (great PR/marketing!). There are other video upload sites, but since YouTube is owned by Google, you’ll get more traffic by posting your video there. Maximize exposure on YouTube even more by including a strong description of the video, tagging it appropriately, and linking to your book and blog. Use this link to share on all of your social media sites!

It took me about 5 hours to create my trailer. The hardest part was squeezing it all into 1:53 minutes. Because I already had the book’s illustrations to use, I didn’t spend upfront time images or music. However, if you plan on doing one or more videos, it may be worth the effort to explore the website resources mentioned above. Another option is paying someone to make the video for you, if you have the budget.

During March, I’ll be featuring this article in my Virtual Book Tour — “Bloggers Read Across the Globe” — a celebration of the National Read Across America Project that promotes children’s reading and literacy. More information on this coming soon!

Share and Enjoy

In June of 2011, I teamed up with Marisa Corvisiero, Esq., a colleague, attorney, literary agent and friend, to form Literary Power House Consulting, LLC—a unique and comprehensive, online consulting firm that offers services to authors, agents, editors, publishers, publicists, and lawyers. This project evolved from work each of us was already providing during a time of rapid changes in the publishing industry. Demand for consulting services grew as major transformations occurred. We decided to combine our skills, expertise and resources under one umbrella that would ultimately benefit clients seeking help with their own publishing needs. Thus, Literary Power House Consulting, LLC now provides the only comprehensive package of Literary Advisory Services offered anywhere.

I’m so excited to announce that Literary Power House Consulting, LLC launched online December 29, 2011. It’s packed with resources and information for everyone along the continuum of creating a work for publication. For example, you’ll find numerous options for workshops and seminars, interactive forums, live chats with peers in your own genre, manuscript query submissions, answers to questions about printing options, e-books, self-publishing, book distribtution and marketing, and tons more.

Please visit Literary Power House Consulting, LLC, and take a look around. We welcome your comments and feedback as the site expands and grows to meet users’ ongoing needs.

We look forward to an exciting and productive 2012!

Share and Enjoy

As 2011 ends, I think ahead to the new year and a spectacular line-up of events focused on promoting reading and literacy among children. One of these falls in March–the National Education Association’s Read Across America 2012. 

What is Read Across America? 

“NEA’s Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of children’s author Dr. Seuss. NEA’s Read Across America also provides NEA members, parents, caregivers, and children the resources and activities they need to keep reading on the calendar 365 days a year. The annual program is supported by more than 50 national nonprofit and association partners. Locally, everyone-from schools to libraries to community centers to churches to hospitals to bookstores-is invited to host local events to celebrate and promote children’s reading.” 

What is “Bloggers Read Across America 2012?” 

To support Read Across America, Story Quest Books will hold a special event during the month of March—”Bloggers Read Across America 2012.” We will partner with online marketing experts and children’s book bloggers to promote Read Across America’s national, regional and local activities.

Our celebration will take kick-off on March 2, 2012 and continue through the end of March. We invite bloggers to participate in guest hosting, contests and awards! We are just beginning to plan and organize daily activities and interactions on numerous social media sites.

So please mark your calendars now and feel free to comment if you have suggestions or questions. For more information about how to generate excitement for reading among America’s children and their families and about best practices for motivating and teaching reading, visit www.nea.org/readacross.

Save the Date and Stay Tuned for More Information!

Early in 2012, we’ll be lining up participants, guest hosts and activities for “Bloggers Read Across America.” Sign up now for your spot on the blog tour—enter your comments and share creative ideas and opportunities for this exciting, first-time event! I look forward to hearing from you!

Share and Enjoy

When I was asked by my local Patch.com to write an article about children’s books for the holidays, I was excited to share my list with readers. The article first appeared in the HolmdelPatch and then was posted to several other communities in New Jersey: Rumson-FairHavenPatch, EastWindsorPatch, LawrencevillePatch, EastBrunswickPatch and the NewBrunswickPatch. All the interest from my surrounding communities made me feel home for the holidays!

Patch asked newly-published children’s book author Jo Ann Kairys of Monmouth County to tell us about the most magical children’s book on the shelves this holiday season. We invite you to read her list which includes her own book, Sunbelievable.

Sunbelievable, By Jo Ann Kairys and Daniel Kairys, MD; Jo Ann Kairys and Frank Thompson (Illustrators). ISBN 978-0982699829 Publisher: Story Quest Publishing, October 2011.

This hilarious tale told by 2 curious children. But it’s not all make-believe. NASA’s Chief Technologist contributed facts about the real Sun. Illustrations feature real children in brilliant, magical landscapes. This book combines wonder and imagination in a whimsical tale bound to delight children and adults. Sunbelievable received the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award 2012. Publisher: Story Quest Publishing (October 2011) Reading Level: Ages 4 and up Hardcover: 40 Pages ISBN: 978-0982699829

Kids say and do the darndest things, right? And so often, they  provide tender or hilarious or wonder-filled inspiration for picture  books.

One day I heard my granddaughters complaining about the rain as  they thumped on the window. Eager to get outdoors, they waited  impatiently for the storm to end. Suddenly, they pretended they were the  rain. “SWOOSH! SPLAT! SWISH!” Their sounds were innocently poetic,  perfect ingredients for a rhyming picture book. Putting it all together  in story form is when the magic happens—a sound in just the right place,  a vibrant image that brings the story alive, and characters who draw  you right into their world.

Kids say and do the darndest things, right? And so often, they provide tender or hilarious or wonder-filled inspiration for picture books.

One day I heard my granddaughters complaining about the rain as they thumped on the window. Eager to get outdoors, they waited impatiently for the storm to end. Suddenly, they pretended they were the rain. “SWOOSH! SPLAT! SWISH!” Their sounds were innocently poetic, perfect ingredients for a rhyming picture book. Putting it all together in story form is when the magic happens—a sound in just the right place, a vibrant image that brings the story alive, and characters who draw you right into their world.

There are so many wonderful children’s picture books. I’d like to share a few from 2011 that I think have that special magic—the kind that children will love to hear and read over and over again—and you will, too! Some are from major publishing houses. Others are from smaller, independent publishing companies. Several have received high honors and distinctions.

Sunbelievable is available from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Whole Foods, and independent book stores. Find more  great children’s books at IndieBound Community, Goodreads, Library Thing and Scholastic. Read and enjoy!

Share and Enjoy

Finding book award contests to enter can be daunting.

I started with a Google search and spent hours drilling down into contest rules and requirements. My book, Sunbelievable, was published by my own publishing company and therefore qualified as a “self-published” versus a print-on-demand “self-published” book. The distinction is important to keep in mind when sorting through submission guidelines. Here’s my list which includes content taken directly from the award sites. I limited this list to 10 for now, but there are others I’ll post next!

1. The Golden Kite Award: http://www.scbwi.org/Pages.aspx/Golden-Kite-Award. “Presented by the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators the Golden Kite Awards, given annually to recognize excellence in children’s literature, grant cash prizes of $2,500 to author and illustrator winners in four categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Picture Book Text, and Picture Book Illustration.  A commemorative poster with the winners will be created and distributed to, among others, various schools, libraries and publishers. In addition to the four Golden Kite Award winners, four honor book recipients will also be named by the panel of judges which consists of children’s book writers and illustrators.  More than 1,000 books are entered each year. Eligible books must be written or illustrated by SCBWI members, and submitted either by publishers or individuals.” 2012 Golden Kite Competition Submission Information for publishers. 2012 Golden Kite Competition Submission Information for individuals.

2. The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards: http://www.moonbeamawards.com/. ”Designed to honor the year’s best children’s books, authors and illustrators. This year’s sixth annual Moonbeam Awards program is open to authors, illustrators, and publishers of children’s books written in English or Spanish and intended for the North American market. All 2011 and 2012 copyrights and releases are eligible. Presented by Jenkins Group and Independent Publisher magazine, the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards are designed to bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and to support childhood literacy and life-long reading. Awards are given in 38 categories covering the full range of subjects, styles and age groups that children’s books are written and published in today.” Click here to receive the 2012 Moonbeam Awards entry form and guidelines by email.

3. Mom’s Choice Award: http://www.momschoiceawards.com/. “The Mom’s Choice Awards® is known for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. This annual competition recognizes authors, inventors, companies, parents and others for their efforts in creating quality family-friendly media products and services. The Mom’s Choice Awards® is accepting entries. In most cases, decisions can be made in 8 – 12 weeks. Distinguish yourself and your work and join this prestigious awards program.” Click here for the online entry process.

4. The Purple Dragonfly Book Awards: http://www.fivestarpublications.com/bookcontest/pd_book_contest.html. ”Geared toward stories that appeal to children of all ages. We are looking for stories that inspire, inform, teach or entertain. A Purple Dragonfly seal on your book’s cover tells parents, grandparents, educators and caregivers they are giving children the very best in reading excellence. Our judges are industry experts with specific knowledge about the categories over which they preside. Being honored with a Purple Dragonfly Award confers credibility upon the winner, as well as provides positive publicity to further their success. The goal of these awards is to give published authors the recognition they deserve and provide a helping hand to further their careers.” Only 131 days left until Entry Deadline, May 1, 2012!

5. The Royal Dragonfly Book Awards:  http://www.fivestarpublications.com/bookcontest/rd_book_contest.html. ”Five Star Publications is proud to present the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, which were conceived to honor published authors of all types of literature – fiction and nonfiction – in 50 categories, appealing to a wide range of ages and comprehensive list of genres. Our judges are industry experts with specific knowledge about the categories over which they preside. A Royal Dragonfly seal on your book’s cover tells readers they are perusing a highly acclaimed publication. Contest winners garner instant credibility, attention from the media and an opportunity to increase book sales. On the personal side, recipients of Royal Dragonfly Book Awards experience increased self-esteem, heightened confidence and recognition from their peers and employers.” Only 41 days left until Entry Deadline, February 1, 2012!

6. Cybils Children’s and Young Adult Literary Blogger Awards: http://www.cybils.com/. “Our purpose is two-fold: Reward the children’s and young adult authors (and illustrators, let’s not forget them) whose books combine the highest literary merit and “kid” appeal. Foster a sense of community among bloggers who write about children’s and YA literature, highlight our best reviewers (and shamelessly promote their blogs) and provide a forum for the similarly obsessed. You (and you can be anybody, even you) may nominate any book published in the contest year in English.” Nominations open October 1 and close October 15.

7. The Independent Publishers Book Awards: http://www.independentpublisher.com/ipland/ipawards.php. “The ‘IPPY’ Awards were conceived as a broad-based, unaffiliated awards program open to all members of the independent publishing industry, and are open to authors and publishers worldwide who produce books written in English and intended for the North American market. We define “independent” as 1) independently owned and operated; 2) operated by a foundation or university; or 3) long-time independents that became incorporated but operate autonomously and publish fewer than 50 titles a year. Books with 2011-2012 copyright or that are released between Nov. 1, 2010 and March 15, 2012 are eligible. 72 subject categories in National awards. E-Book Awards with fiction, non-fiction, children’s and regional categories. Winners receive medals, certificates, and earn credibility, publicity — and increased book sales!” Final entry deadline March 15, 2012.

8. The Indie Excellence National Book Awards®: http://www.indieexcellence.com/index.html. “NIEA celebrates overall excellence, including design and promotional text, so that discerning readers know an NIEA winner or finalist is something special. What’s more, award announcements receive extensive media coverage you can leverage to your sales advantage.” The 2012 contest begins in June 2011 and runs through April 15, 2012.

9. Next Generation Indie Book Awards^®: http://www.indiebookawards.com/index.php. ”Calling all indie book authors and publishers – including small presses, mid-size independent publishers, university presses, e-book publishers, and self-published authors.” Entries are now being accepted for the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the most exciting and rewarding book awards program open to independent publishers and authors worldwide who have a book written in English with a 2011 or 2012 copyright date.

10. Benjamin Franklin Awards™: http://www.indiebookawards.com/index.php. “Recognizes excellence in independent publishing. Publications, grouped by genre are  judged on editorial and design merit by top practitioners in each field.  Includes fifty-five categories recognizing excellence in both editorial and design,and  is regarded as one of the highest national honors in small and independent publishing. The IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards program is unique in that entrants receive direct feedback from decision makers in the industry.” DEADLINES: FIRST CALL—SEPTEMBER 30, 2011, for titles published January 1 – August 31, 2011. SECOND CALL—December 31, 2011, primarily for titles published September 1 – December 31, 2011. All titles carrying a 2011 copyright date will be accepted in this round of entries.

More award contests will be included in the Story Quest post on Monday, December 26th. I welcome your additions and suggestions!

Share and Enjoy

Not sure I’d call myself an expert after one round of book award contest submissions. But, I have learned a thing or two from the big leap. Which it was… I thought I could take a breather after my indie book, Sunbelievable, was published in October 2011. Wrong. I was already backing into award contest season, and the clock was ticking.

I started with a simple Google search for “children’s book awards.” Then the race was on! In writing this post, the content become more expansive with information about specific contests and the submission process. So, I broke the topic into several parts. Part One is a general overview of general considerations.

Part One: Children’s Book Award Contests — Tips for Independent Authors

1. Not all contests accept self-published books, but many encourage their participation. Some are geared specifically to independent authors, including the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY), the National Indie Excellence Award and the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Benjamin Franklin Award. Mentioning these awards is not an endorsement per se, but these are highly regarded organizations favorable to self-publishers.

2. Submission fees. Be prepared to pay a fee per contest as well as additional fees for more than one entry category. Many award contests offer multiple categories–for example, illustration, cover design, story, rhyme and character. The categories are clearly delineated, so it’s always helpful to consider where your book has the best opportunity for an award.

3. Submission guidelines: Each contest has its own set of guidelines and “rules.” Read these carefully, especially if running into the deadline. It’s always a good idea to set up a spreadsheet that lists each award, entry fees, deadline, date submitted, date of award. I’ll include a spreadsheet as an example in this series focused on keeping track of the award contest submission process.

4. Sending books to contest judges. Again, each award contest differs. It may be required to send at least one book if not many more, depending on the number of categories entered and the number of judges for each category. USPS Media Mail is a cost effective way to send books in 2 to 8 days, and it includes tracking.

5. Award cycles. For the most part, books published in a certain year–let’s say 2012, are eligible for contests specifically for that year. The award cycle generally begins in the fall, with deadlines through spring of the following calendar year. If at all possible, try to time the publication date of your book to align with the award contests you wish to enter. Not all contests, however, require the year of publication date. Some contests accept entries during the year. The Mom’s Choice Award, for example, generally makes award decisions within 8 weeks.

Is it worth it? This depends on your publishing goals and budget! Winning a reputable, well-recognized award offers marketing opportunities that can only help create great buzz for you and your book! Has it been worthwhile for me? Absolutely. Winning the Mom’s Choice Award 2012 is fantastic, and hopefully just the beginning!

The next post will focus on types of awards for self-publishers, with lots of references and sites to visit. Stay tuned for Story Quest Thursday!

Share and Enjoy

Two New Events–Website Redesign and Sunbelievable Book Review!

Just received this elegant review for Sunbelievable and wanted to share it along with the launch of my new website! It’s exciting that the two events coincide–I had many ideas for my first post on the newly redesigned website, but along came the review. So, welcome to my new site and enjoy the review!

Sunbelievable
By Jo Ann Kairys, Daniel Kairys, Frank Thompson (illustrator)
Story Quest, $15.95, 40 pages

“Sunbelievable is the story of two young sisters who are forced to abandon their playtime on the beach for their home when darkness falls and their bedtime nears. Indoors, they weave fanciful stories about the Sun and what he likes to do: everything from riding rollercoasters, to teaching fireflies how to shine so they can eat pizza—with sun-dried tomatoes of course!

Sunbelievable offers young readers the best of both worlds: an amusing story about a personified Sun and a page of true facts about the star we call the Earth’s Sun. While the Sun story will encourage readers to use their imagination to create even wilder stories about the Sun’s life, the page of facts will encourage learning about the Earth’s Sun. I wish there had been even more space dedicated to Sun facts or activities to complement the story. However, most teachers and parents will probably find many jumping-off points in the story to encourage factual learning…the seashore, fireflies, sunflowers.

There is also a sweet sub-plot of the family: the girl’s love for each other and their relationship with their parents. When, so often, children’s cartoons and books portray the relationship between siblings and parents as less than ideal, this is an encouraging detail.

The quirky illustrations of Sunbelievable not only burst with color, but also offer a “second-read” appeal. Young readers will discover new details in the illustrations each time they page through this book.  The illustrations—like the book’s story—are an interesting combination of realism and fantasy. Although the girls, the beach, and their home are portrayed realistically, the illustrators added intriguing detail, such as sprinkles of fairy dust and mice wearing top hats. And the pages that feature the Sun’s life are unforgettable. You can’t take your eyes off of them!”    

Hope you enjoy the review! I’m writing this at sunrise–perfect timing!   

Share and Enjoy