Tag Archives: talking to children about COVID-19

Nov10

Interview with Judith A. Proffer

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Judith A. Proffer is the author of the children’s book, “We Stayed At Home”.

With all the new changes with COVID and distance learning, it’s hard for children to understand why the changes are happening and to safely follow all the new expected procedures. I’ve found a great book that revisits the story that happened to us all this spring, and why it’s so important to embrace the changes in our lives and stay safe for everyone.

Judith A. Proffer is the co-author of the book “We Stayed At Home”.  Written with co-author Tara Fass, a licensed marriage and family therapist, this book helps illustrate the ups and downs that children are experiencing with the virus, and how they can be supported with school, home life, and their general well being. I had a chance to talk to Judith about her reading memories as a child, favorite authors, inspirations and why she loves to write.


1) What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?

Judith A. Proffer: Visiting the library weekly with my mother and sisters, we each could select a handful of books. It was such a rich experience. And for me it was more than the content, it was also about illustration, the feel of the paper, the typography. The entire book appreciation experience. I may have even smelled a brand new book or two. I shall neither confirm nor deny that.


2) Who was your favorite author and how did they influence you?

Judith A. Proffer: Asking me to name a favorite author is akin to asking me to consider my favorite song or book or dog. As a child I wasn’t a finicky reader, I enjoyed a swath of genres. I have a crush on storytellers and writers. As for how they may have influenced me. I learned early on that words don’t need to be particularly hefty or fancy to make an impact. They just need to be the right word in the right sentence to pack a powerful punch.


3) Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.

Judith A. Proffer: I love writing with my morning tea. I love writing in my rose garden at sunlight’s golden hour. And I even love those 2 a.m. moments of inspiration.


4) What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?

Judith A. Proffer: Travel, climate change, honoring the heroes among us.


5) What is writing to you in one sentence?

Judith A. Proffer: Writing is the purest expression of my truest self.

“When We Stayed Home” is a wonderfully, illustrated book that helps children cheer themselves on during these unusual times. It honors their role as “superheroes” by staying home and learning, but validating the necessity of the sacrifice of keeping distance, avoiding playgrounds, and limiting visits with family and friends. Co-authored with a family and marriage therapist, this book will help families navigate the bumps of the pandemic with a dash of hope and optimism.

For more information on Judith A. Proffer, please visit her website at: http://huquapress.com/.

Sep4

Day 5: Back to School Blog Tour 2020

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Welcome to the last day of the Back to School Blog Tour. I hope you have enjoyed all of our featured authors this week, and have added to your home or class online library. I’d like to wrap up this fabulous week by introducing you to my last featured author, Thomasina M. D’Arezzo. She is a published poet, and has written children’s books and women’s fiction.  She lives in New England citing autumn being one of her favorite seasons. She enjoys hiking, acting and listening to music when not involved in writing. She’s proud of her recent college graduate son.

Thomasina M. D’Arezzo is the children’s author of the mystery children’s book, “Marco The Mini Sleuth: Where did the Kitten Go?”

Her recent book, “Marco The Mini Sleuth: Where did the Kitten Go?” is a fun mystery adventure that any kid can get lost in. Great for writing assignments or studying the mystery genre, this book will introduce your child to her fantastic Marco The Mini Sleuth series. I had a chance to talk to Thomasina about her childhood reading interests, writing process, and what writing means to her.

1) Who was your favorite author and how did they influence you?

Thomasina M. D’Arezzo: For Children’s books there are multiple that I like. I enjoy a lot of classic tales. I particularly enjoyed “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” by Beatrix Potter and “Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll.

2) Do you have a writing routine?

Thomasina M. D’Arezzo: When writing a novel I have a routine where I try to write 5000 words per day. When writing a children’s book, I will sit on the idea for a while in my head before I bring it all to life.

3) What is writing to you in one sentence?

Thomasina M. D’Arezzo: It’s a beautiful escape from reality! A world where you can create what you want!

“Marco The Mini Sleuth: Where did the Kitten Go?” is a great mystery for any child to get lost in. Marco’s cousins have recently lost their new kitten. Marco is on the case. By using his magical magnifying glass, he goes out looking for clues. They all work together to solve the mystery, but they get side tracked along the way. Will the clues lead them to the kitten in time?

“Marco The Mini Sleuth: Where did the Kitten Go?” is available at Amazon.com.

To close out this year’s blog tour, I’d like to announce two things.

  • It’s not too late to still enter the Back to School 2020 Blog Tour $25 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway. The giveaway will be open through the end of the week, and will close for entries on Sept. 7, 2020. The winner will be announced next week on the blog. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!
  • New picture book release: I Don’t Want to Wear A Mask

I’ve been working feverishly on this project the last few months, and I’m happy to announce it’s release during this year’s Back to School Blog Tour. This picture book is a great way to help children validate their anxiety and concerns about the pandemic and how it is changing our lives.

A little about my new book:

Trying to teach your child about the importance of wearing a mask in school?

Albert is returning to school. But this year is different than all others before. He has to wear a mask. The COVID-19 Virus has spread around the world in the first pandemic in one hundred years. He has been studying at home, and has missed a lot of things. He misses his friends in preschool. He misses his teacher. He misses being outside and playing on the playground. But for his first day of Kindergarten, he has to wear a mask. Will talking with his mother about the reasons to wear masks help Albert understand how he can be a superhero?

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This picture book helps children understand the importance of wearing a mask in school. They can be a superhero just like Albert as they wear a mask like other adult heroes in grocery stores, post offices or libraries. Teach your little one the importance of mask wearing as they return to in-person school or prepare for online distance learning. Help children understand the new normal happening around them and why it is important. This book is recommended for ages 3 to 8. It’s available on Amazon.com as a print or ebook edition.

I want to thank all of the participating authors for sharing a little of themselves and their fabulous books. I look forward to this blog tour highlighting unique, Indie children’s authors at the beginning of each school year.

This year is so very different than many others, and I hope the book recommendations, interviews and my resources are supportive and helpful to parents and teachers during this school year of 2020 -2021.

***Please follow my blog to find out about wonderful, fabulous Indie children’s authors and their books all year long!

Until next year, remember to keep reading and writing,

-Mrs. Turner

Apr28

Interview with Chris Lewis

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I’m starting this week out with a great support picture book for your little ones to understand the COVID19 situation, and help them become informed in a child friendly way. Chris Lewis wrote this book with fellow colleagues to help support parents explain to their younger children what is going on in the world. Haley and Comet Learn about COVID-19 is available as a FREE picture book and is available in Indonesian and Portuguese translations. I had a chance to talk to Chris Lewis about his writing routine, future projects, and what writing means to him.

1) Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.
Chris Lewis: After I have eaten with a cup of tea in the evening.

2) What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?
Chris Lewis: Business and technology subjects target and younger readers. Change Management and testing is on the cards.

3) What is writing to you in one sentence?
Chris Lewis: A privilege and a joy I am working every day to get better at.

Covid19PictureBkcoverHaley and Comet Learn about COVID-19 tells the story of two twins, Haley and Comet. They are confused about why they are not allowed to visit with friends, and their big brother isn’t allowed to go to school. Discover the journey the twins go on to find out how COVID 19 has affected their lives. This story is written for 5 years and up.

Haley and Comet Learn about COVID-19 is available at the following eBook store links:

English version: https://books2read.com/u/mVw5Y5
Indonesian version: https://books2read.com/u/bMpdg5
Portuguese version: https://books2read.com/u/mKDMqP