Planning science units can be hard, especially when trying to find the right read-aloud to go with your unit. Plus, home schooling parents might enjoy this book for making scientific connections in literature. I’m talking about the book “Think Like A Scientist”. It’s a story that features being brave, always asking questions and to never give up.
I had a chance to ask Brandon Green, the author of “Think Like A Scientist”, about his inspirations and writing routines. Brandon Green is an Australian author that uses his background as a businessman and entrepreneur to guide his writing. He runs a podcast sharing his experiences as a “Digital Nomad”, and has also written a book on self-help called “Become a Loser to Become a Winner”. I hope you enjoy this behind-the-scenes look into Brandon Green.
What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?
Brandon Green: My favourite memory reading as a child was having my favourite book read to me by different people, as everyone tells the same story differently.
Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.
Brandon Green: I just set myself a goal to do it, and try to knock it all out in one sitting. It’s very hard and distracting for me to work at a target over a longer period of time
What is writing to you in one sentence?
Brandon Green: To me, writing is all about the ability to put a story together. From constructing something well-detailed just from a small idea, and having it flourish.
Blurb for “Think Like A Scientist”
“Jack’s dad gets sick with strange symptoms that doctors can’t figure out. Feeling lost and worried, Jack decides to think like a scientist. He asks questions and looks for his own answers. This story shows how Jack uses his smarts to help his dad when the experts can’t. It’s a tale about being brave, asking questions, and never giving up.”
For those teachers and home school parents looking for a wonderful way to tie several subjects together into a thematic teaching unit for your young students or child, here is a unique alphabet book for you. “Moving Through the Alphabet an Animal’s Way” combines fun facts for each letter, coordinated animal exercises and care of the body for a healthy inclusion in the curriculum. Best of all, it has beautiful and engaging illustrations.
I was honored to talk to the author of the book, Catherine Anderson-Barnes. A former educator, Mrs. Anderson-Barnes created a fantastic new perspective for learning the alphabet that is engaging and crosses several curriculum subjects. I got the chance to talk with her about her inspiration and several important aspects of her book.
1) From where did you get the ideas/inspiration for your books?
Catherine Anderson-Barnes: I have taught nutrition and health education for over 25 years, specializing in educating young children. Although I cherished being an educator, I found it important to resign my position to care for my late husband who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. During this time I remained passionate about working with children and was inspired to write a series of children’s books that would focus on health and wellness and incorporate the A, B, C’s. I took many of the learning experiences that had worked so well for me in the classroom, over those many years, and successfully transferred the lessons to paper.
2) How can parents and teachers best use these books?
Catherine Anderson-Barnes: The books are filled with a great variety of learning opportunities: Learning colors, letters (upper and lower case), parts of our body, how foods play a role in our overall health, the importance of being physically active, fruit and vegetable recognition, animal recognition, and how animals are similar and different from us.
3) What do you think kids will like most about your books?
Catherine Anderson-Barnes: Children are sure to enjoy the vibrant colors, the whimsical fruit, vegetable and animal characters, be amazed by how fruits and vegetables assist different parts of our bodies, and act out each animal’s unique characteristics.
“Moving Through the Alphabet an Animal’s Way A to Z” is a picture book designed to focus on the role physical activity plays in our body’s health. Children are introduced to the ABC’s by animals from around the world. Each letter has a set of fun facts and physical activity associated with that animal’s movement. Role-play for physical activity while learning your ABC’s in an inspirational environment in this unique ABC book.
For many of you, school has started and Halloween is just around the corner. But it’s never too soon to start planning for the Holidays. I’ve found a great picture book author with a talent for whimsical illustrations. He captures the essence of each animal in his Whispers in the Woodland series. His new book, although not part of the same series, follows in the same footsteps. His hand-drawn style lends a comforting touch to his characters. I had the chance to ask him about how he became an author, his influences, and what he has in store in the future.
1) How did you come to write the book?
Michael Dibley: I have a friend called Iwa that I used to live with. Somehow, I can’t quite remember, but she started singing this children’s Christmas song entitled “Snowflake”. So I had her name, then snowflake, and the two clicked together for me. Well, there you go. She actually helped a lot with the ideas. We did discuss the book and the plot before pen was put to paper.
2) Who are your main influences when writing?
Michael Dibley: I love Beatrix Potter, Amy MacDonald and Nick Butterworth. Any book that has a good story and beautiful illustrations always helps. These are all authors from my childhood that I still cling onto.
3) I can see you’ve published quite a few children’s books, do you have anymore lined up?
Michael Dibley: I do. I have one that will be released later this year entitled “Sophie the Hedgehog”. It’s part of my Whispers in the Woodland series. I’ll put information on my author page below when it is available.
Book Blurb for “Iwa the Snowflake”:
A scary situation for any child is to be separated from their family. It’s no different for Iwa the Snowflake. She finds herself lost during a storm and desperately wants to get home. It’s the start of a new adventure as she discovers a new world. But can she get back in time before the sun comes back out?
On the final day of the blog tour this year, I’d like to thank all of the participating authors for taking the time to submit their books and/or participate in the interviews. These authors take the time to write incredible books and then allow me to bring them to you. So, a big thank you to all of them.
And I’d also like to thank all of my readers that follow this blog. Over the years, I’ve tried to provide resources to help in the classroom and support parents at home in educating and helping their child to appreciate new voices in literature. So, thank you for returning again and again to see what new books and authors I have found for you.
Meanwhile, let’s recap the authors that have been participating this week.
If you missed any of the posts, these are short cuts to get you connected with each author and book that has been featured. Plus, there are a lot of different resources for the classroom and for home schooling on my blog. I’ve listed some of the free lesson plans and units you can find on my blog below.
Free Online Novel Study for my book, “The Lost Secret of Fairies”.
Thank you for a fantastic Back to School week of ideas, books, authors and organizational fun. I do hope that I’ve helped you plan more towards your 2023 curriculum, and that you have a fabulous start to your school year.
Until next time, keep safe and keep writing,
-Tiffany Turner
Retired Elementary Teacher
Head writer/editor for the Indie Children’s Authors Connection Blog
Welcome to day two of the 2023 Back to School Blog Tour. I have another author interview for you today. I have found a fabulous author that has the extra talent of being an amazing illustrator as well. It seems this is a great bonus combination for becoming an indie author. His picture book is called “The Smile”, and it is an always free or permafree book on Amazon and other online retailers. The illustrations have a noble look that imbues a vibrant charm to the characters and the story. Centering around an Inuit girl and her dog, it is sure to have a special place in any home library or classroom bookshelf.
Marin Darmonkow lives in Canada with his family. He has retired from advertising and wanted to find a worthy way to give back to the community. Writing children’s books is his chance to do just that, and he even started his own publishing company to do so. I had the chance to interview him about how he became an author, how he gets his ideas, and what projects he is writing now.
1) What made you want to become an author?
Marin Darmonkow: I started late – after I retired. Both of my children attended medical school, they became independent and my parental obligations significantly reduced. For the first time in my life, I had time for myself and I wanted to make a product; preferably something without an expiry date. I solely create children’s books for the reason that I possess the skills not only to write but also to illustrate, design, and put together the layout. This is a perfect fit for publishing picture books.
2) For your featured book, how did you get the ideas to write it?
Marin Darmonkow: I was probably influenced by contemporary media – Indigenous affairs are one of the daily topics discussed on radio stations, TV channels and the Internet. I live in Canada, so I decided to create a humane story about the most famous Inuit symbol, the innunguaq, and its relationship with people. You know that the stony sculpture is like a person but it is also a signpost and plays a significant role in Inuit culture.
On my search for an editor of Inuit origin, a University professor from the Department of Linguistics told me that I had no right to create such a story as I did not belong to the Inuit group of people. The professor’s warning struck a chord with me as I am an adamant defender of freedom of expression. My unapologetic answer was that I published the story – I uploaded the book as perma-free to all major online book retailers. I even included the professor’s correspondence in the book’s description. Amazon is the only exception to this as from time to time the behemoth unilaterally adds a price to the book.
3) What writing projects are you working on right now?
Marin Darmonkow: I am currently working on a story about the only child in the world born without a heart. The title of the publication is BEMBE’S HEART. Bembe is an ancient Mayan name and it means “son of a prophecy”. Everyone should read the book to their child as it is a book about the extraordinary bond between mother and child. It is a stunning story about know-no-limits motherly love.
Book Blurb:
Living in the land of six months night and six months day, challenges are always around the corner. The young Inuit girl, Ahnah, and her dog, Akiak, must survive while her parents leave to find food. She learns to endure and lets her dreams lead her. In the end, she will bring a smile to everyone’s face.
“The Smile” is available for free at the following online retailers:
For more information about Marin Darmonkow, please visit his website at: Fontreal.com.
I hope you are enjoying the blog tour event so far. Please leave a comment to let me know what you like or suggest what to include next year. I would love to hear all the feedback for future planning. Look for a featured book review tomorrow. Until then, have a great start to the school year!
Greetings and welcome to the 2023 Back to School Blog Tour. I have some great indie children’s authors and books to introduce you to this week. I am hoping you’ll find some fabulous home study or classroom resources for the 2023 school year. Having taught in the classroom for 18 years, I know that you want to find new and inspirational role models and books with themes that are helpful for teaching in the curriculum. I’ve lined up some fabulous titles and author interviews as well as book reviews.
So, let’s get started with our very first author for the week: Peter Aronson.
Peter Aronson is a former award-winning legal affairs journalist, former New York City attorney, and now writes essays, short stories and children’s books. His book, “Mandalay Hawk’s Dilemma: The United States of Anthropocene”, is a look at a futuristic kid take-over inspired by a middle schooler with a different view of how the world should be. Set in the year 2030, it’s a wake up call for the adults in the world to do something or the kids will instead. Mandalay herself is a rebel with a passion for the environment, and doesn’t seem to let breaking some rules stop her mission to save the world.
I got a chance to ask Mr. Aronson about why he became an author, what gave him the idea for his book, and what future projects he has planned.
1) What made you want to be an author?
Peter Aronson: I have been writing for a long time, because I was a journalist for approximately 20 years earlier in my career. I became interested in writing fiction when I read more novels and saw the limitless creative opportunities. When I am making up a story and I like what I am writing, I get a wonderful sensation of feeling free, of feeling like I can do anything. It’s a sense of accomplishment, or achievement, I don’t get doing anything else. I began writing short stories, then a I tackled a novel.
2) For your featured book, “Mandalay Hawk’s Dilemma: The United States of Anthropocene”, how did you get the idea to write it?
Peter Aronson: My daughters, Mabel and Maisy, were young then, in middle school, and they were reading apocolyptic-type books and I thought, wouldn’t it be nice if they read a novel that dealt with a real-world problem? It was 2015 and I believed then and even more so now that global warming was the biggest problem the world faced. So I decided to write a novel about kids fighting global warming, about taking the fight to the highest level. I got the idea before the amazing Greta Thunberg burst onto the scene and made such an impact.
3) What writing projects are you working on now?
Peter Aronson: I am writing a TV mini-series based on my non-fiction middle-grade book “Bronislaw Huberman: From Child Prodigy to Hero, the Violinist who Saved Jewish Musicians from the Holocaust.” The story is still little known outside the music world. Huberman was a great humanitarian who overcame great odds in the 1930s to save Jewish musicians from the Nazis by establishing a orchestra in what was then Palestine. Huberman was a pacifist. A true maestro, he used his violin as his sword and enlisted people like Einstein to help him.
Book Blurb:
“Mandalay Hawk’s Dilemma: The United States of Anthropocene” is a middle grade novel that presents an all-too-real 2030. The Big Heat hits that causes temperatures to rise to extreme heat waves that kill thousands. The world has a hazardous future, and one 13-year-old decides she’s had enough and wants to do something about it. Only her idea of what to do might break a few rules along the way. From creating her own group called KRAPP (KIDS REVOLT AGAINST ADULT POWER) where the adventure leads to Washington D.C. and rapping to a captive president, it’s a novel that may lead to a call of action for kids around the world.
“Mandalay Hawk’s Dilemma: The United States of Anthropocene” is available on Amazon.com.
Summer is here! This is a great time to put together a summer reading list for your child and help encourage them to read for enjoyment. There is nothing better than to sneak in some enrichment titles too.
If you are looking for a way to enhance your child’s world, “Nurse Mayumi” is a great add to your list. It is written by a nurse that wanted to bridge understanding of the Filipino community, inspire other Filipino children, and open up the world of nursing to children. Mary Jane Genuino, DNP RN-BC wanted to show the caring tradition in Filipino families by writing “Nurse Mayumi”. In the interview below, she shares about her writing routine, subjects that she wishes to write about, and what writing means to her.
1) Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.
Mary Jane Genuino: Writing is a passion of mine, and I’ve found that establishing a routine is key to staying on track and making progress. For me, the most important aspect of my writing routine is consistency.
2) What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?
Mary Jane Genuino: For this children’s book, “Nurse Mayumi”, it is more of an advocacy. Through this book, I hope to raise awareness about the important contributions that Filipinos make to the nursing profession, and to provide representation for Filipino children who may not see themselves reflected in mainstream children’s literature. By sharing the story of this remarkable nurse, I hope to inspire young readers to pursue their dreams and to celebrate their cultural heritage. Currently, I am finishing a compilation of stories from nurses who have lost a loved one, including my own.
3)What is writing to you in one sentence?
Mary Jane Genuino: Writing is about self-expression and it can be therapeutic, educational or entertaining. Writing has the power to change the world around us.
Book Blurb:
“Nurse Mayumi” is a book that helps bridge the Filipino culture with nursing. Family is important in the culture. For most Filipinos, it means everything. This book shows the love of a daughter, a sister, and a nurse. It also showcases the familiar traits of most Filipinos–their caring nature and resilience. Join Nurse Mayumi in her journey of commitment, family and love for her nursing career.
Imagination is one of those things I like to encourage in children. I always liked to use books to inspire that spark to get a story going in a child’s mind, especially books that had fantastic artwork. I think I’ve found a book that would make a great way to introduce children to a classic story with inspirational illustrations. It’s called: “Jabberwocky: Spooky Stories for Kids.” This is a newly illustrated version of the great, classic poem by Lewis Carroll and is part of the Spooky Stories for Kids series.
The illustrator of the book is Carolyn Watson Dubisch. She has an impressive background in comic books, working in independent films and music videos. She has written seventeen children’s books and four comic book series. Her illustrations have appeared in children’s magazines such as “Hopscotch” and “Highlights for Children”. I had the chance to ask her about inspirations in her childhood, about her favorite author, writing and the illustration process, and what future projects are in the works.
Carolyn Watson Dubisch is illustrator and author for the children’s book series “Scary Stories for Kids”.
What is your favorite memory from reading as a child? Carolyn Watson Dubisch: I very much enjoyed reading outside. Perhaps it was because it was harder for my parents to find me and make me do chores. I would climb as high as I could and sit in the huge blue spruce tree in the front yard of our house on Long Island in New York. My other favorite spot was on the dock at our cabin in central Maine. I liked how the waves would make it shift under me while I read.
Who was your favorite author and how did they influence you?
Carolyn Watson Dubisch: My favorite author growing up and one of my favorite authors still today is Stephen King. I liked monster movies and the things that lurked in the dark. Things like ghost stories and vampires were always fascinating for me, also much safer than the real horrors of the world. It definitely influences what I’m doing with this series “Scary Stories for Kids”.
This book, Jabberwocky, was a poem by Lewis Carroll that I interpreted with my art. It’s a nonsense poem that I added dimension and story to with my visuals. With the first book in the series, I created an alien abduction book called “Alien Farm”. Also, the story is told through the art. These tales are mildly scary for younger kids and the response when I bring these books into schools is incredible. Kids love to be scared in literature.
Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.
Carolyn Watson Dubisch: I don’t have a consistent writing routine, but I do try to start all my writing in the morning. For some reason I find it almost impossible to write at nighttime and when I do, I rewrite everything.
The other thing I often do is write in long hand in notebooks and later transcribe (which is the first rewrite). I do this because I have had a lot of writing get lost or deleted from old computers or broken storage devices. I have been able to salvage many stories through what I’ve found in my old notebooks. Notebooks last longer than computer hard drives and storage devices, and things like the cloud or dropbox are newer, but will, at some point, be replaced by a new system. I’m afraid those things won’t last either. I don’t trust anything but analogue anymore
What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?
Carolyn Watson Dubisch: Current projects include my book “The Lighthouse Cats of Mazatlán”. This is a children’s book about the cats that live on the Lighthouse trail in Mazatlán, Mexico (where I live). I wrote two comic book series for kids “After The Robots Died”- a scifi fantasy about children who traveled as embryos to a distant planet and were born artificially and raised by a robot. The story begins as the robots are breaking down and the children are slowly getting isolated and must survive without them.
I also write a kids comic called “The Dragon in The Closet” about a cursed boy plagued by monsters when he discovers a dragon living in the closet in the basement and befriends him. This series has just been nominated for the Outstanding Creator Awards of 2023
What is writing to you in one sentence?
Carolyn Watson Dubisch: Writing is one of the most important ways I express myself and my inner world.
Book Blurb:
Carolyn Watson Dubisch brings to life the classic tale by the well-beloved author, Lewis Carroll. Her whimsical illustrations bring us into the world of the Jabberwocky. A young boy sets off on a quest through the Tulgey Woods to slay the mystical Jabberwocky. Enchanting and strange creatures join him as he pursues the monster. Enjoy a new look on an old classic while introducing your child to a children’s literature masterpiece.
Birds are singing. Flowers are blooming. Spring is finally in full swing. What better way to help your child connect with nature than with a good book! I’m continuing to feature spring related books on the blog during this season, and here is my next gem.
Princess and Scruffyis about a squirrel that has a fear of heights, and needs to work out his trauma with the help of his new friend. Sean O’Leary is the author. Mr. O’Leary does a fabulous job addressing the issue of making new friends and facing fears all set within a beautiful forest. The illustrations are adorable, and I hope you enjoy his interview. He shares about his reading memories, author inspirations and what he does to help his writing routine. Happy Spring!
What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?
Sean O’Leary: My mother would read to me before I went to bed, and I very much looked forward to reading time.
Who was your favorite author and how did they influence you?
Sean O’Leary: As a child I loved everything Dr. Seuss. The books are more than just entertainment; they have a message they are trying to convey. I remember talking about the themes with my mom. One that sticks out to me is Whoville. A person is a person, no matter how small. I think that is important today more than ever. Everyone is important. Teaching empathy for others is a valuable skill and an important attribute for people to have if they want to be an asset to society.
Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.
Sean O’Leary: I have always lived a very full life which makes it very difficult to keep a strict writing routine. I visualize a story before I write it down. Once I have the story in my head, it is like a splinter that keeps pestering you until you take it out. I have to write it down so I can get it out of my head. There are times I will think about the story for a few days before writing it down. Such was the case with Princess and Scruffy. Other times, it takes me several years before I have what I want to say all together in my head. That is how it was with The Road of Blood. I want to see the story in my imagination first, and then I just have to write down what I see.
Scruffy is a lovable, fluffy, tan squirrel that lives in a beautiful forest. He is a small animal with a big problem. Unlike all the other squirrels, Scruffy is afraid of heights. Instead of running up and down the trees and out across the limbs, he is stuck on the ground.
One day he makes a new friend who promises to help him as he tries to overcome his fears. Scruffy is afraid that if he does not learn to climb trees, he will lose his new friend. Will he succeed? Will he learn to climb trees like the other squirrels? With a friend like Princess, he cannot fail.
Princess and Scruffy is available at Amazon.com as a Kindle Unlimited title.
For more information on Sean O’Leary, visit his author page here.
A very happy spring to you and your kin! Hopefully, it is starting to warm up and flowers are starting to bloom where you are. Our thoughts turn to hopeful tidings, and it is wonderful to reflect that with the literature we share with our children and students.
I have found a wonderful book that gives insight to a supportive structure to children in foster care. “Ronni Raccoon and the Foster Bunnies” is a picture book written by a former foster parent. Luci Hollenkamp captures the nurturing and supportive environment created to support children in any type of family. She used experiences as a foster parent and as a capable auntie to help write the book. Luci Hollenkamp shares some of her story inspirations from participating in foster care and from her nieces and nephews in her interview below. Enjoy!
What is your favorite memory reading as a child?
Luci Hollenkamp: When I was young I was a bit of an insomniac. I used to hide under my covers with a flashlight and read late into the night. In the winter, when it was cold out, you could hear the wind howling and the windows rattling. It was especially comforting to be reading and settled into a good book.
What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?
Luci Hollenkamp: “Ronni Raccoon and the Foster Bunnies” has been something I have thought about writing for a very long time. I was a foster mom for a while and loved every minute of it. It was not easy, but it was rewarding and worth every effort.
The story is loosely based on some of my experiences. I plan on writing more books in the series. Some of the stories will draw from the adventures with my foster children, some from nieces and nephews, and some from my siblings growing up. This book is my tribute to those I love. They mean the world to me.
I also hope it helps people realize a little kindness and care can go a long way. Different families, even within the same cultural groups, have their own traditions and their own way of doing things. If we just open ourselves up and give other ways a try, it can help open doors of understanding and goodwill.
What is writing to you in one sentence?
Luci Hollenkamp: Writing for me is a way to leave a legacy of love and kindness.
Book Blurb: What do you do when two young bunnies get separated from their parents? If you are Ronni Raccoon, you open your home to them and keep them safe until they can be reunited with their parents. In this heartwarming tale, Ronni Raccoon learns about accepting others as they navigate these difficult times together and meet each other where they are. This beautifully illustrated story shows how family are the ones we let snuggle close to our heart.
The Indie Children's Authors Connection 