The Legend of the Acai: Retold and Illustrated by Montserrat Lehner

Hundreds of years ago, a land of plenty existed in the Amazon Rainforest. A tribe of people lived there and enjoyed the rich flora, food, and beauty. Men fished and hunted, while women raised their children and harvested the crops.

One summer, a terrible drought leaves the people with no food. The tribesmen have to travel great distances in order to bring their families sustenance. A darkness overtakes the people and their land.

Itaki, chief of the tribe, has to make a very difficult decision that will affect all members of the tribe. Sorrow fills their hearts; the birds stop their singing and the animals leave. Itaki’s beautiful  daughter, Iaça learns she is to have a baby soon. But with the sacrifices her people have to make, she knows she must make a difference before her baby is born. She does – making an exotic discovery – one that exists to this day.

Montserrat Lehner combines her love of nature with a beautiful story that teaches the importance of preserving our resources. This story, illustrated with vivid and colorful pictures by the author, delivers a message to readers, from 2 to 102, about the wonders of the Rainforest and how crucial it is to protect it. Lehner is an artist, author and educator, who grew up in Colombia, where she fell in love with the colors, shapes and sounds of this stunning country. She is currently writing two children’s books and lives with her family in Florida.

Publisher’s website: http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TheLegendOfTheAcai.html
Author’s website: http://www.thelegendoftheacai.com

Author Showcase: A place for authors and illustrators to gain visibility for their works. Titles featured in the Author Showcase have not been reviewed by The Children’s Book Review, and reflect the thoughts of the author, illustrator, or publishing company. Read more …

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Angel in a Fur Coat:  A fiction fantasy

Author: Cynthia L. Enuton

ISBN: 978-1-934666-33-3

Published: High Pitched Hum Publishing, February 2009

Reading level: 7+ for anyone who has ever shared love with a dog

Soft cover: 228 pages with scattered black and white illustrations

It’s true! Angels are trading their wings and halos for fur coats and bones to be born on earth as dogs but first they must learn what it means to be a dog so they go to school.

The book explores the wonderful world of dogs through the eyes of one little special angel named Xia who bears a pink polka dot birth mark.  Xia is encouraged by her mentor, a bird named Opus, a world traveler, to follow the path of her ancestors and become a guardian angel but Xia’s everlasting dream is to be a person’s best friend…she wants to be a dog.

Xia joins her buddy Bernie at the Heavenly K9 Academy. Bernie is only a few semesters away from earning his fur coat so Xia is placed in a different class being teamed up with a newbie like herself—Nitwit, the class clown.

The unlikely partners are in for a world-wind adventure as they enter the K9 simulation exercise where team work is essential. They morph into various rescue dogs to perform life saving duties and they travel back in time on earth to historical lands via the Academy’s magical Interactive breed cube to learn about the history of various dog breeds. The antics and tolerance of the duo during the lessons on The Art of Bark, Tail Wagging Aerobics, and the sniffing laboratory experiments are comical, while the moral message in the telling of the story Gooberella showing the epitome of unconditional love is heartwarming.

After receiving her assigned person’s information, Xia embarks on a  personal journey over the rainbow to find her person’s previous angel dogs in the hopes to learn as much as she can about her person so she can be the best dog she can be.

Will Xia graduate from the Heavenly k9 Academy? What secrets will the past angel dogs reveal? Does her special pink polka dot relate her to the infamous legend of the pink toe or is it just a coincident?

“Angel in a Fur Coat is an absolutely delightful and immensely entertaining story to read. I appreciated the writing, warmth and feeling generated within the pages of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it to others. I am looking forward to reading more titles by C.L. Enuton.”
Connie Harris TCM Reviews

Author/illustrator, Cynthia Enuton, worked with emotionally challenged children for 13+ years utilizing a group of therapy dogs and their handlers within a state treatment facility. Inspired by the healing connection of animals coupled with the comical companionship and love of her own dogs and a sprinkle of vivid imagination, her first book, Angel in a Fur Coat, emerged.

More books are to follow with missions and adventures of Fur Angels on earth. The legend of the Pink Toe has begun.

An autographed book to you and your Fur Angel is available directly from the author’s website at http://www.Gooberella.com

The reader can also include their own pet into the Fur Angel fantasy with a customized Fur Angel necklace or magnet of their own furry loved one at http://www.AngelsinaFurCoat.com

Author Showcase: A place for authors and illustrators to gain visibility for their works. Titles featured in the Author Showcase have not been reviewed by The Children’s Book Review, and reflect the thoughts of the author, illustrator, or publishing company. Read more …

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Jennifer Swanson’s award winning Penny and Rio early chapter book series features interactive books that lead to exceptional learning. To celebrate National Children’s Book Week, she will be offering a curriculum giveaway. She also announces the release of the third book in the series, Penny and Rio: The Diamond Collar Adventure.

[May 6, 2010, Jacksonville FL] To celebrate National Children’s Book Week, Jennifer Swanson, author of the award winning Penny and Rio Series, will be offering a free copy of her curriculum suggestions to anyone who purchases a copy of  Penny and Rio: The Mysterious Backyard Meeting from her website.  Designed by the author, Jennifer Swanson, M. S. Ed., the packet includes exciting and interesting ideas for how to use the Penny and Rio books in traditional or homeschool classrooms.  Provoking discussion questions, interactive role-playing assignments, even suggestions of similar books for text-to-text connections will engage students and get them thinking like the dynamic canine detectives.

“Teachers and parents”, stated Ms. Swanson, “will enjoy using these curriculum suggestions in any learning environment.  In no time children will be seeing dogs in a new and fascinating light. Perhaps they will see they have a dog detective of their very own, right in their own backyard.  The possibilities are limited only by a child’s imagination.”

The third installment in the award-winning Penny and Rio early chapter book series, Penny and Rio: The Diamond Collar Adventure, will be released in July 2010.  In this book, the dynamic canine detectives escape from the backyard for the first time in search of a valuable diamond collar lost by Hannah, the beautiful show dog.  As Penny and Rio search for the misplaced treasure, they encounter Ted, the lovable but clumsy collie, Sarge, the belligerent and forceful German shepherd, and an obstacle of epic proportions. Just when it feels like Penny has reached the end of the adventure, the prize is ripped from her grasp. Solving this new problem will take all the ingenuity and determination these dog detectives can muster.

“I am thrilled,” continued Ms. Swanson, “to announce the release of the third book in the Penny and Rio series. This exciting adventure will have readers digging, sniffing and jumping through obstacles right along with the canine detectives as they clear the hurdles to complete this adventure on time.  The suspenseful ending will throw the reader a loop as the intrepid pet detectives must use their heads to solve the problem like never before.”

The release of the third Penny and Rio book will be quickly followed by the release of the first two Penny and Rio books in Thailand in late summer 2010.  Penny and Rio: The Mysterious Backyard Meeting and Penny and Rio: The Locked Doghouse Mystery have been translated to Thai for marketing and distribution to the children of Thailand for later this year. The series is also being distributed in France by Mariposa Press.

Ms. Swanson’s books have won numerous industry awards. Both of her books, Penny and Rio: The Mysterious Backyard Meeting, and Penny and Rio: The Locked Doghouse Mystery, have won a Mom’s Choice Silver Awards for Juvenile Fiction – Early Reader. The Mom’s Choice Awards esteemed panel of judges includes educators, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. They have both been awarded The Dove Foundation’s Family-Approved Seal.

In addition to writing books about dogs, Jennifer is committed to helping animals. She firmly believes in adopting dogs, and has taught her children the same values. In support of this goal, Jennifer donates a portion of her proceeds to a local Jacksonville pet rescue organization, G.R.E.A.T Rescue. The organization rescues and rehabilitates golden retrievers and places them in their new and forever homes. Jennifer has also recently teamed with Pawsitive Pets, a local organization that takes dogs into schools to help children learn to read.

To participate in the National Childrens Book Week curriculum giveaway, visit www.pennyandrio.com/buythebooks and purchase The Mysterious Backyard Meeting. Be sure to put your request for the curriculum in the comments section.

Ms. Swanson is available for interview and can be reached using the information below or by email at PennyAndRio@yahoo.com. More information is available at her website at www.PennyAndRio.com. Her books are available Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, IndiePendent Books and at her website.

Profile: Jennifer Swanson has been writing since the age of 5. A 1990 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Jennifer pursued her other love of science and became a prep school chemistry teacher.  Her Navy career took her to Norfolk, VA where she was stationed with her husband, Jon.

Her life changed forever when they adopted Penny, their first dog. Penny was a wonderful addition to their family and less than a year later, they adopted Rio, her best pal. Jennifer kept writing during the next several years as she raised three children, supported her naval officer husband and taught both part and full time.

Today Ms. Swanson continues to work on the Penny and Rio series and recently received her Masters in Education. Jennifer is employed as a middle school science instructor for John Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth.

Jennifer is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers.  She regularly attends the Florida branch of SCBWI’s conferences in Orlando and Miami. She is also a member of the Florida Writer’s Association.

Add these books to your collection: Penny and Rio: The Mysterious Backyard Meeting and Penny and Rio: The Locked Doghouse Mystery

Author Showcase: A place for authors and illustrators to gain visibility for their works. Titles featured in the Author Showcase have not been reviewed by The Children’s Book Review, and reflect the thoughts of the author, illustrator, or publishing company. Read more …

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Children around the world will be delighted with the ingenuity of these two dogs as they solve mysteries and go on adventures right from their own backyard.  Great for classrooms or home school, these award winning early chapter books will provide engaging entertainment while also creating exceptional learning opportunities.

Penny and Rio: The Mysterious Backyard Meeting

by Jennifer Swanson

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Paperback: 44 pages

Publisher: Mirror Publishing (December 16, 2008)

Penny, a highly inquisitive young dog, discovers an unlikely group of animals having a late night meeting in her own backyard.  Through an ingenious plan, Penny discovers their evil plot.  She has to stop them!   But will her “sister” dog, Rio, help or is she more concerned with sleeping?

With its surprise ending, this book teaches children that not all things are as they appear and that it is very important to take care of your pets.   Early chapter book readers will love discovering how Penny and Rio, canine detectives, solve the first of their many cases.

Add this book to your collection: Penny and Rio: The Mysterious Backyard Meeting

Penny and Rio: The Locked Doghouse Mystery

bv Jennifer Swanson

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Paperback: 44 page

Publisher: Mirror Publishing (August 4, 2009)

In Penny and Rio: The Locked Doghouse Mystery, the intrepid dog detectives, Penny and Rio, are on the case again.  Squeaky, the mouse, needs Penny’s help to get his precious belongings from a locked doghouse.  Along with Hobbes, a massive Great Dane, Penny and Rio strive to complete this adventure.  What are the dogs to do?  Squeaky’s valuables seem lost forever. Can they open the doghouse in time?

Children will applaud the ingenious and hysterical attempts of the dog’s to open the house. They will love to guess what is inside, only to be utterly surprised at the result.  Follow along as the dynamic detectives, Penny and Rio, discover that they can do anything, as long as they work together.

Add this book to your collection: Penny and Rio: The Locked Doghouse Mystery

Both books have been awarded the Mom’s Choice Award and the Dove Foundation’s Family Approved Seal!

About the author: A graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy, Jennifer Swanson’s lifelong interest in books led her to become a children’s author. Her award-winning books about Penny and Rio the dynamic canine detectives, have delighted children across the country. Both books have been awarded the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award for juvenile fiction and The Dove Foundation’s Family Approved Seal. Both awards indicate an excellence in family-friendly media.

Penny and Rio have gone international! You will soon be able to read the Thai version of both Penny and Rio books. In addition, Penny and Rio will be introduced to the French market in spring 2010.

Jennifer has her Masters of Education in K-8 science and is a graduate of three courses from the Institute of Children’s Literature. She is an active member of SCBWI and also  a member of  the Florida Writer’s Association. Currently, she is employed as a science instructor for Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth.

Visit the Penny and Rio Website to find out what others have to say about this award-winning series: http://www.pennyandrio.com/raves/reviews/

Author Showcase: A place for authors and illustrators to gain visibility for their works. Titles featured in the Author Showcase have not been reviewed by The Children’s Book Review, and reflect the thoughts of the author, illustrator, or publishing company. Read more …

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Doodads: A Collection of Children’s Poetry

by Carrie Heyes

Published: July 2009, WhipperSnap Press and CreateSpace

Reading Level: 6+

Paperback: 60 pages

Carrie Heyes’ debut poetry book, Doodads: A Collection of Children’s Poetry embraces simplicity as she explores the world through the eyes of children making their way on adventures and in every day life.

Heyes’ whimsical poems lend themselves to catchy phrases and silly, but thoughtful ideas. Her cheerful illustrations complement the poetry by adding cute visual elements, while leaving plenty of room for the reader’s imagination.

Celebrating childhood is the sole theme uniting Heyes’ poems. She was inspired by her own happy life, growing up in rural Ontario, where she had the freedom to explore, learn and be a kid. Heyes’ website (CarrieHeyes.com) offers rotating videos of readings of her poems, which encourage her visitors to read along.

It is the perfect book if you only have a moment to read a poem or two, or an hour to read them all. You’ll close Doodads feeling light, content and playful, no matter what your age.

Author Showcase: A place for authors and illustrators to gain visibility for their works. Titles featured in the Author Showcase have not been reviewed by The Children’s Book Review, and reflect the thoughts of the author, illustrator, or publishing company. Read more …

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Hilda van Stockum (1908 – 2006) was an internationally noted author and illustrator of books for children and young adults. Her first books were published during the the 1930s, a period sometimes referred to as a “golden age” of children’s literature. Published by The Viking Press, these included A Day on Skates (1934) for which she took Newbery Honors, and The Cottage at Bantry Bay (1938), the first in a trilogy of books featuring the O’Sullivan family of Bantry Bay Ireland.

From the 1930s through the 1970s, Ms. van Stockum published more than twenty books. They were widely read and favorably reviewed and were particular favorites among librarians who appreciated their celebration of family life and timeless themes of good and evil.

Ms. van Stockum often used her family as models for the written and illustrated characters in her books, which were known not only for their warm and vivid depictions of family life but also their realistic depictions of life in the face of difficulty or danger. The Mitchells (1945) was a semi-autobiographical account of how the author’s family coped in Washington, D.C. during World War II. Someone asked van Stockum who the protagonist of the book was, and she immediately answered: “The family is the protagonist. The family weathers the storms.” The Mitchells includes a description of her brother Willem van Stockum, who was killed in 1944 on an RAF mission.

Her most famous book, The Winged Watchman (1962), a recipient of the Brotherhood Award of The National Conference of Christians and Jews, tells the story of two young boys living in a windmill who helped the Dutch resistance during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II.  Penengro, initially published in 1972 by Farrar Straus & Giroux and rereleased in 2010 by Boissevain Books, tells the story of a young orphan in Ireland who, after being adopted by a couple because of his resemblance to the couple’s deceased son, runs away and is embraced by a group of gypsies.  Ms. van Stockum had a great affinity for the Romany people and in Penengro depicts the challenges they faced.

In addition to writing and illustrating her own books, Ms. van Stockum translated and illustrated editions of many other authors, including editions of Afke’s Ten, Hans Brinker, Little WomenLittle Men and , and Willow Brook Farm. She was a charter member of the Children’s Book Guild and was the only person to have served as its president for two consecutive terms. Ms. van Stockum was also a painter of some note, showing frequently in galleries in Dublin, Geneva, Ottawa, and Washington, D.C. She was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Hibernian Academy and her paintings are in the National Gallery of Art and other major collections of 20th century Irish artists. In 1993 her still life, “Pears in a Copper Pot,” was chosen to appear on an Irish postage stamp as part of Ireland’s Europa series honoring contemporary art.

Hilda Gerarda van Stockum was born in Rotterdam in 1908 and grew up in Ireland and the Netherlands. As a child, she traveled with her family to France, Switzerland, and the East Indies, constantly filling notebooks with stories and pictures. In 1932, in Dublin, van Stockum married Ervin Ross (Spike) Marlin, the roommate at Trinity College of Ms. van Stockum’s brother Willem (a mathematician famed among time-travel aficionados). Two years later, the Marlins moved to New York and in 1935 to Washington when Spike Marlin won by exam a U.S. civil service position in the Administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The family, which grew to include six children, moved frequently following Spike Marlin to his various government posts which included assignments in Montreal, Dublin, London and Geneva. Hilda and Spike eventually retired to Berkhamsted, England.

Boissevain Books hopes to introduce today’s generation of children and adults to the work of Hilda van Stockum.

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Patsy and the Pup

by Hilda van Stockum

Reading Levels: 2 to 6

Paperback: 84 (black and white)

Publisher: Boissevain Books, dedicated to reviving the work of internationally acclaimed author and illustrator Hilda van Stockum (1908-2006).

Patsy and the Pup is an illustrated book written for children aged 2 to 6. It tells the story of a mischievous puppy that follows a little girl home and their adventures when the child tries to return the pup to its owner.  This is a charming story that will put smiles on the faces of children and adults alike!  Patsy and the Pup was first published in 1950 by The Viking Press and recently republished by Boissevain Books.

Patsy and the Pup is available for sale at amazon.com at $9.95. Bulk orders are available. Please direct all inquiries to Boissevainbooks@gmail.com

For more information about these books and the other works of Hilda van Stockum, visit http://www.Boissevainbooks.com.

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Penengro

by Hilda van Stockum

Reading Levels: 8+

Paperback: 212 pages

Publisher: Boissevain Books, dedicated to reviving the work of internationally acclaimed author and illustrator Hilda van Stockum (1908-2006).

Penengro is the story of a young orphan boy who runs away from his adoptive parents and joins a community of gypsies. The story is set in Ireland in the mid-20^th century. It’s an exciting tale of a child who, when adopted because of his resemblance to the couple’s dead son, escapes and finds acceptance and support in a culture historically scorned by mainstream society. Penengro is filled with adventure, and written with sensitivity and pride in its depiction of Romany culture. First published in 1972 by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, this softbound edition was published in April 2010 by Boissevain Books.

Penengro is available for sale at amazon.com for $9.95 (softbound). Bulk orders are available. Please direct all inquiries to Boissevainbooks@gmail.com

For more information about Penengro and the other works of Hilda van Stockum, visit http://www.Boissevainbooks.com.

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Angela is the creator, author and illustrator of the well-known Petalwink book series for children (www.Petalwink.com) sold to bookstores, retail outlets, libraries, and schools throughout the country. She also writes the highly popular “flog” [fictional blog] chapter book series for tweens, the Fifties Chix, about the friendship of five time-traveling teen girls (www.thefiftieschix.com) and is working on multiple book series projects for children, teens and adults.

Bianca: Did you always aspire to be a writer?

Angela: I remember the very moment my mom, sitting with me at the kitchen table, taught me to hold a pencil; I had to be about 3 years old and I remember it because it was momentous, this feeling of great accomplishment and possibility. I wanted to literally “write” and I haven’t stopped wanting to write or draw since. I wrote stories throughout my entire childhood, always about someone with a unique perspective (in one instance, gave my tennis shoe the opportunity to relate what it was like to spend a day at the State Fair).

Bianca: What inspired you to write the Petalwink series?

Angela: Along with my desire to write, I’ve always been an avid reader. My aunt was a children’s librarian and always encouraged my brother and I to read, supplying us with unique and amazing books. One of my invisible childhood friends was Suzy Sunshine; our relationship was enriched by the stories I read that fed my imagination. I always felt that with SS there was a secret little someone in my pocket to share adventures with. All these things, along with a stint doing fairy murals for the clients of my art business, culminated in the concept of Petalwink. I wanted children to have the same special feeling I’ve always had that anything is possible when you believe in yourself and the greater good. Petalwink is the incarnation of that childlike sweetness and innocence and wonder.

Bianca: What made you pick a fairy for your main character?

Angela: I didn’t have a choice, she picked me! It was natural for us to team up; I think Suzy Sunshine is a mutual friend and sent Petalwink to me. Apart from that, a fairy has a great perspective (even better than a tennis shoe), and has that magical childlike wonder to bring to a story. She’s also really fun to draw, especially with that periwinkle hair.

Bianca: What do you think is the most important lesson that a young reader can take away from this series?

Angela: I hope that readers will embrace their childlike sweetness and wonder and never let it go. Learning lessons like being kind, thoughtful and persistent help us stay childlike; the cynicism or materialism sometimes associated with adulthood don’t really help us “grow up” or progress. But the youthful sense of creativity, possibility and affection for good actually benefits civilization as a whole. So ultimately, I hope readers of all ages come away with a sense of how special they are and how much they have to give.

Bianca: Should we expect to see another published book from you soon?

Angela: I’ve just finished writing and illustrating the fifth and sixth books in the Petalwink series and am starting on the seventh. Those books will go to print soon; as they are being published, I will be continuing to work on three or four other series I’m excited about (one for kids, one for teens and two for adults).

Bianca: Which books do you think influenced you the most during your childhood years?

Angela: So many books! But my favorites are
“Rain Makes Applesauce” by Julian Scheer (and illustrated by Marvin Bileck);
“An invitation to the Butterfly Ball” by Jane Yolen (and illustrated by Jane Breskin Zalben);
any and all Tasha Tudor and Beatrix Potter;
“The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett;
“Island of the Blue Dolphins” by Scott O’Dell;
And of course, any and all Judy Blume!

Bianca: Do you have a special place that you like to be while you write?

Angela: I like to write almost anywhere, but I usually end up in my art studio. The most productive place for me to write is on a plane! I just wrote the seventh Petalwink book on our patio on a lovely sunny day.

Bianca: Is there a perfect time in the day where your creative juices flow more readily?

Angela: After two or three o’clock in the afternoon I really work well and by nine o’clock at night, things are really clicking!

Bianca: What are you doing when you are not writing books?

Angela: I love to read, read, read, paint, and work in the garden. I also love watching movies (more stories!) with my husband, Whit.

Bianca: Any last words?

Angela: Everything I’ve written in the Petalwink stories I’ve had to put into practice in my own life; so while they are hopefully fun and entertaining stories, they also have an applicable lesson. I’ve found myself often going back to the first book and reviewing Petalwink’s message, “I’m glad to be me!”

Read what others have to say about Angela Sage Larsen’s Petalwink the Fairy series.

The “Author Showcase” is a place for authors and illustrators to gain visibility for their works. Titles featured in the showcase have not been reviewed by The Children’s Book Review, and reflect the thoughts of the author, illustrator, or publishing company. Read more …

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Author Showcase: A place for authors and illustrators to gain visibility for their works.*

Petalwink the Fairy

by Angela Sage Larsen

Reading level: ages 3-8

Hardcover and paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: Rising Star Studios, LLC.

Praise for Petalwink the Fairy:

How blessed is that family for whom fairyland is not off-limits! The world of imagination and the creatures who inhabit have so much to teach us all; fairy tales are often spiritual explorations which encourage moral awakenings. We learn through what delights us. Inspiration is vital to mankind. We all need that spaciousness of vision which comes from enlightened writers. The gifted writers who take us into the world of fantasy, expand our hearts with brightened views through their enchanting characters and sparkling words.

The Petalwink series, beginning with “Petalwink Learns to Fly,” has a focus on character education while keeping us laughing at our human foibles. Author/illustrator Angela Sage Larsen manages to do this in remarkably musical rhyme–entertaining the ear while expanding the heart. Through refreshingly distinctive words and illustrations, the book subtly awakens an awareness to such qualities as courage, humility, nobility, confidence, resilience, kindness, and compassion. The series is ideal for ages 3-8, those beginning to read and being read to, but the child-heart of all ages will appreciate Petalwink’s tale of trial and triumph.
- Marjorie Day Hamlin
Children’s Librarian & Children’s Literature Educator

I believe that the art work in children’s literature should always be of the highest standard, art museum quality. The illustrations in Petalwink are beautiful, truly creative works of art that youngsters and adults can appreciate. Petalwink can be read to–or by–children of all ages. The message is that all things are possible when you set a goal and expect to achieve it–even that which sometimes seems impossible. It may take time. Be expectantly patient. Readers are encouraged to dream big dreams, be creative in reaching them and not to be discouraged.
- Dr. Carol Freund, PhD
Pre-School Teacher for 30 years, Masters Degree in Teaching, Doctorate in Education

About the author: Angela is the creator, author and illustrator of the well-known Petalwink book series for children (www.Petalwink.com) sold to bookstores, retail outlets, libraries, and schools throughout the country. She also writes the highly popular “flog” [fictional blog] chapter book series for tweens, the Fifties Chix, about the friendship of five time-traveling teen girls (www.thefiftieschix.com) and is working on multiple book series projects for children, teens and adults.

After an internship at an art gallery on the Oregon Coast just before graduating from college, and an art abroad painting in Scotland, Angela knew she wanted to commit her life to art and self-expression. With her husband, she co-owned and co-operated a studio and art gallery in Sonoma County, California. It was here that her childhood reveries and professional art and writing experience merged to produce the Petalwink the Fairy concept and began her exciting career as author, artist, and collaborator extraordinaire – known and loved by youngsters, teens, parents, and teachers throughout the country in homes, libraries, and classrooms everywhere.

*Titles featured in the Author Showcase have not been reviewed by The Children’s Book Review, and reflect the thoughts of the author, illustrator, or publishing company. Read more …

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.