Written With Love

A true love story. The 28-page children’s book With A Cherry On Top is a “little love story” brought to life by author Jane Asher and illustrated by Steve Burrows. “It is a true story about a conversation that I had with my son when he was six years old about who loves who more,” Jane says.

Released in 2006 and published by Amazon’s BookSurge Publishing arm, With A Cherry Top garners a five-star rating from fans and is adored by so many. It’s a thoughtful gift for the holidays, too.

This book is a sweet expression of love. It is a delight for all of us who have ever tried to express just how much we love someone only to have it ‘topped’ by their love for us! Read it and add your own topping … you’ll love it!

-Gaila, superfan

Jane Asher – who’s also a popular radio personality- lives in San Diego, CA, where she writes daily. Encinitas, CA-based artist Steve Burrows shows his love of surf, travel and adventures through his art, entertaining both the young and young at heart.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

I Love Mommy Because

Children’s photo board books give parents and children a chance to share memories and words of love.

Barb-A-Mel Books‘ vibrantly illustrated board books create a personalized story you and your children can read together. Simply insert your own 4×6 photos into the top of each page of I Love Mommy Because… or I Love Daddy Because… to create this one-of-a-kind book. They also make a perfect gift for Grandparents.

Barb-A-Mel Books are created by mompreneur Barb Lawson-Miller, initially to show her newborn daughter just how much her Daddy loves her when he couldn’t be there for bedtime storytelling. “When friends and family learned of my daughter’s favorite book, they said I should try to get it published,” Barb says. “I decided to ‘shoot for the stars’ and submitted it to over 20 publishers… and I was rejected by every single one. The publishers loved the concept, but it didn’t fit into their publishing criteria.”

In 2001, Barb formed her own publishing company. Now, her books sell in stores across Canada and online …

Who knew the children’s book business could take you to Hollywood?

And recently, she –and her books- were invited to show at several gifting suites before the Grammy and Academy Awards in America. “My husband and I have had a lot of fun meeting celebrities and giving them my books,” she says. And now, Barb’s books are available to all the parents in the USA, too!

As she heads into her eleventh year, Barb plans to expand her publishing repertoire to include “I Love My Brother Because…” and “I Love My Sister Because…” We’re looking forward to seeing them!

Another ChicExecs PR Client! Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Alphabetown USA Launches New Line of Children’s Books

These books engage young readers to read with fun characters, lively illustrations and worthy life lessons.

North Carolina-based Alphabetown USA creates educational books that help children ages two through eight make sense of the letters in the alphabet and the magical words they create. The books are developed by husband and wife team Ryan and Nicole Mayer and illustrated by artist and family friend Russ Simmons.

With its bright and beautiful illustrations, Alphabetown books are a perfect way to introduce language skills to young children. We are excited about using these books as part of our curriculum.

-Nancy Whisonart, Trinity Episcopal Preschool, Moorestown, NJ

Titles included in the series from Beaner Books are Where is Ziggy?, Hannah’s Homework and Catena Goes Camping, followed this summer by the introduction of Madison’s Magical Adventure.

The story ideas come from the Mayers’ own children – Ryan and Nicole then write the books. Nicole’s background in psychology and education along with Ryan’s experience as a former law enforcement officer contribute to the couple’s added educational twists.

Reading, and the ability to read, is such a critical part of a child’s development that we wanted to create books that were not only fun for young children, but served as an educational tool for parents and teachers as well.

Prior to its official publication, Where is Ziggy?, the story that kicks off the Alphabetown USA series was made available for use in local elementary schools and eventually was awarded an Honorable Mention at the 2008 NYC Book Festival for Best New Children’s Book.

The illustrations are eye catching and will attract young learners with their bold colors and interesting adventures.

-Frederick Johnson, Ed.D., principal, Mary E. Roberts Elementary School, Moorestown, NJ

The authors’ children have also influenced Alphabetown USA beyond just story ideas. Socially conscious daughter Hannah inspired her parents to donate a portion of proceeds from each title to charity. Proceeds from the sale of Where is Ziggy? help Alex’s Lemonade Stand fight childhood cancer victims, from Hannah’s Homework benefit McDonald House of Southern New Jersey, and Catena Goes Camping aids Miracle Flights for Kids.

Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Reading is Fun-To-HUDSON’S

We think “Reading is Fundamental,” and it’s also Fun-To-HUDSON’S!

With a holiday season full of early morning door buster sales, the true meaning of Christmas can get lost in the flurry of activity. A visit from one of Santa’s plush Elf Magic™ Elves is a great way to bring wonder, magic and meaning back into Christmas. Elf Magic Elves, sent by Santa to visit children during the Christmas season for over 50 years, truly become a child’s best friend and a part of the family in a way that is simply magic! The brand-new Elf Magic, The Story of a Timeless Christmas Tradition is a 51-page book that’s easy to read and features gorgeous watercolor illustrations. The story transports readers to the North Pole, where Santa gathers his Elves for the annual reading of his story about a timeless Christmas tradition. Readers also learn important details about the Elves through the enchanting story, including what they like to eat and the significance of the embroidered snowflake on each Elf’s chest.

In her first-ever children’s book, celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich welcomes you into her home and kitchen during this holiday season. In Nonna Tell Me A Story: Lidia’s Christmas Kitchen published By Running Press Kids, Lidia shares one of her fondest childhood memories-decorating her very own edible Christmas tree. With a mix of storytelling, cooking instruction, and imaginative animation, this Christmas book showcases special family moments created around memorable food. Featuring 16 delicious easy-to-cook recipes, this book is sure to bring your family together in the kitchen. Yum!

Bestselling novelist Andrew Klavan has written the scariest Homelanders book yet, number three in the four-part series of his young adult thrillers slated for feature films by Summit Entertainment. The Truth of Matter is published by Thomas Nelson and joins The Last Thing I Remember and The Long Way Home which chronicle the story of Charlie West. For this holiday season Andrew and Thomas Nelson offered 2010 Christmas/Hanukah/Holiday Giveaways to the children of U.S. Armed Forces through media outlets or organizations who serve the families of active-duty, wounded, fallen or retired servicemen and servicewomen. TheHomelanders.com.

Writer and illustrator Debby Carman is donating copies of her hardcover dog and cat picture book series to the national organization, Reach out and Read and make their way into the hands of doctors, nurse practitioners and other medical professionals and become a part of wellness check-up programs, starting in California. Titles in clue I’m Gronk and I’m Green, Cha Cha the Dancing Dog, I’m Maximum Cat, That’s a Fact, Chewdalootie Doing My Duty and Purrlonia’s Lullaby.

Why not create a series of books that allows a parent or another special someone – even a beloved child – to record their own voice reading the story? Author Cristine Hoskin’s Recordable Storybooks series does just that with the début title, I Am Loved. Super simple recording process. The book contains simple word structures and short sentences. Cristine also authors the Comfort Me Bear Mission.

-Janet Muniz

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Kids Book Club

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Summer is a great time to read a good book, isn’t it? For kids as well as parents.

A brand new gaggle of self-published authors are offering fun and interesting books for kids at AuthorHouse.

C is for Chicago is written by Ashleigh Deese Grambo and introduces young readers to Chicago culture while teaching the alphabet.

The Misadventures of Dust Bunny by Beth Smithem teaches the importance of friendship with its lighthearted tales of one dust bunny’s adventure.

Pediatrician and mother Avril Beckford discusses the importance of play in the life of a child and in the parent-child connection in her new book, I Love You 65 Bulldozers.

Inspired by the imaginative lives of children and his own creative thoughts, Thomas S. Adam brings together a delightful collection of short stories for children and their parents, Tom’s Short Tales.

Sometimes it’s the most read book of all time that inspires writing. Author Melanie C. Christmas wrote a story for her daughter that she turned into for a children’s book series. A Picnic with Jesus is the first book in her series called Miss Patricia Diane’s Bible Study Class. The Bible story of the loaves and fishes comes alive in Melanie’s tale. “My life has been filled with many obstacles to overcome,” she says. “However, if God brought me to it he would bring me through it.”

For anyone working with kids ages 10 to 13, leadership development specialist Dr. Alan Nelson’s new book, KidLead: Growing Great Leaders, explores a new way of training the next generation of leaders.

“We’re giving these kids a 10- to 20-year head start from when most leadership training begins,” says Dr. Nelson, founder of KidLead, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing effective, ethical leaders while they’re young. “Imagine what any of us would do with that kind of jump on the competition.”

With personal stories from leaders like Stephen Covey, Mike Huckabee, Ken Blanchard and George Foreman, the book offers a tool chest of ideas for parents, teachers and coaches in a new approach to leadership training.

With a master’s degree in psychology-communication and doctorate in leadership from the University of San Diego, Dr. Nelson has published many articles and books in the field of leadership. He is also certified by the American Society of Trainers & Development and the Center for Creative Leadership. Look for the book in stores July 31.

-Janet Muniz