Interview: Children's Author Carolyn Snelling

Carolyn Snelling's mission is to change lives for Jesus Christ. Through her company, heartofthecrossbooks.com, she spreads the Good News through Christian-oriented books, clothing and accessories. She authored three books in the G.O.L.F.: God Our Loving Father Series" and recently released her first children's book, "Christ's Cake" about a boy's wish to celebrate Jesus' on Christmas with a birthday cake. You can also read a review of Snelling's new book on my children's book website.

Carolyn Snelling

She has Bachelor’s Degree in Human Relations from the University of San Francisco and a Master’s Degree in Psychology from St. Mary’s College. Her background is in human resources and public relations. Snelling, who lives in Surprise, Arizona, with her husband, Bob, recently took some time from her busy schedule to chat with me about her new book, "Christ's Cake."

Why did you write "Christ's Cake"
"Late one night in December 2010, as I was about to fall asleep, the Holy Spirit brought me the idea for this book. Prior to that I had thought about our granddaughter Stacy who was expecting her first child – our first great-grandson.

"The words, “Christ’s Cake” kept resonating through my thoughts so I got out of bed, went to my laptop and began to jot down what I heard. The story started to pour onto the page. I could literally sense “Jackson,” the book’s central character, spending the rest of his life in a loving relationship with our Savior. That is my prayer for our great-grandson, Jackson as well as for all the children of this world.

"I hope this book will encourage the relationship that already exists between our Father and His children. All He wants from us really is our love….that’s why He gave me this book…as a reminder of His promise, His unending love. He wants to develop that relationship with us when we are very young so that as we age and the things of this world become too much to bear we know exactly who we can turn to for help!

"One of my favorite scripture passages is Mark 10:14”…'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.'

"The things of this world keep many of us from experiencing a loving relationship with Christ, our Father and the Holy Spirit. For those of us who have accepted Christ, it is imperative that we share God’s message of love with as many as we can – it is our calling – what else could be more important in this life?"

Is the first book you've ever written? If not, what other works have you published?
"God has allowed me to write three other Christian books. Each book is part and parcel of the GOLF (God Our Loving Father) series. The books weave golf metaphors with Christian principles. The series is found at www.heartofthecrossbooks.com."

Do you feel books like this will help put the "Christ" back into Christmas?
"Anything and everything we, as Christians, can do to share the message of our Savior and His love should be at the heart of our daily interactions – whether we are writers, parents, policemen, teachers, nurses, executives, ministry workers, grocery store clerks, pilots, celebrities – whoever and whatever we do it should all be done for the glory of God – that is how “Christ” stays in Christmas."

What do you hope readers will get from this his book?
"I pray that children and their parents will always remember - whether we are just starting out in this life or whether we have been around for a few years Christ wants a loving relationship with each of us. He already knows us…inside and out….He forgives us when we can’t forgive ourselves…He feels our pain....He knows when we get ‘boo-boo’s” and he sees us through it all.

He is like a child on Christmas morning waiting to open gifts….He has that same enthusiasm waiting to hear each of us on this planet say, ‘Yes God, I love you too’."

Who or what has been your biggest influence as a children's author?
"God, His Son and the Holy Spirit. Of course, our awesome God has given me an amazing husband whose love and support is the best ever!"

Do you have a favorite children's book? Why this book?
"Charles Dickens’ The Christmas Carol is my all time favorite children’s book. Its contemporary companion; Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas follows closely behind.

"The similar stories each have hardened characters – Scrooge in the former and the Grinch in the latter. Like these characters many people have become chained to the shackles of the things of this world – fear, pride, greed, jealousy, hatred, anger.

"Ultimately, both Scrooge and the Grinch are freed by the love God has placed in all our hearts. They, like us, once freed can live as God has purposed for each of us; in His light and His love. When we soften our hearts, our minds and our souls to the love of Christ amazing things can happen!"

Do you have a favorite children's author? Why this author?
"God. He gave us the best book of all for His children – the Bible. There are so many translations and sizes and e-reader versions of God’s instructions for each of us; there is no reason not to own one. He will always be my favorite author of all time!"

Is there one children's book that you think had a profound effect on children and society?
"Again, God wrote 66 books in the Bible filled with His words for His children! They are the most profound books to have shaped the course of history, culture, societies and most especially to determine His people’s significance in this world."

Where is your book available for purchase?
"You can buy Christ's Cake at www.christscake.com."

Friday Interview: Children's Author Kathy M. Miller

Kathy M. Miller

Children's author Kathy M. Miller loves all things nature. At her home in New Ringgold, Pennsylvania, she and her husband, Jeff, are proud owners of Chester, a photogenic feline, and surrogate caregivers to a family of chipmunks: Chippy, Lilly and their four babies, Rosalie, Roosevelt, Rachel and Benjamin.

Her new book, Chippy Chipmunk: Babies in the Garden (October 2011), tells the story of this brood of chipmunks that come together after the four babies are born. It starts with Chippy, the father, waiting anxiously for his offsprings' arrival.

Once they finally come out of their burrow, they roam and explore the author's yard. A photographer by hobby, Miller captures all of their moods and moves from Chippy's bright eyes when he meets his babies for the first time to Rosalie's discovery of her reflection in a bird bath.

Chippy Chipmunk: Babies in the Garden is Miller's second book. Her first, Chippy Chipmunk: Parties in the Garden, released in September 2009, received 15 national awards including the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, the Purple Dragonfly Book Award and the Young Voices Foundation Award. You can also read a review of Miller's new book on my children's book website.

Miller recently took some time out of her busy book promotion schedule to chat with me about Chippy and her love of children's books.
Tell me about your background.
"I grew up in Ottawa, Ontario Canada. My British mother was an avid reader who filled our home with books. The highlight of my week was visiting our community library."

Why did you write Chippy Chipmunk: Babies in the Garden?
"After the release of my first book, Chippy Chipmunk Parties in the Garden, I was always asked if I would do another book. I usually replied that I would love to, but I was at the mercy of what I could photograph. When a mother chipmunk brought her babies to my window – as if to show them off – I knew a sequel was in order! Kids are fascinated with chipmunks and the sequel gave me an opportunity to write about chipmunk families."

Chippy Chipmunk: Babies in the Garden

The images in this book are fantastic! Have you always been interested in photography? 
"Yes, I had a camera when I was a teenager, but I didn’t get serious until about five years ago, after my Mom died. I found nature photography to be a good source of healing. There are many beautiful things to observe that make you smile and even take your breath away.

 Nature photography requires that you hyper focus for long periods of time. This was a good diversion from my grief! I used books, workshops, tutors and skills learned in my college art classes. To help me improve the quality of my images. It takes a lot of patience, practice and time to get good pictures."

What do you hope readers will get from this book?
"I hope they learn to identify backyard birds, and take an interest in other wildlife beyond chipmunks. It would be great to see children taking more of an interest in spending time outdoors. A camera will get kids engaged in nature as they look closely for things to photograph. Through observation they will hopefully become curious and build a connection to their natural surroundings."

Who or what has been your biggest influence as a children's author?
"Carl Sams III and Jean Stoick, through their books such as the classic Stranger in the Woods, showed me how photography could be used for illustration. I was thrilled to get their endorsement on the back of my books!"

Do you have a favorite children's book?
"I loved The Cat in the Hat, Go Dogs Go and Horton Hears a Who. I found these highly engaging stories which I read again and again. I love the rhythmic use of language in the Dr. Seuss books."

Who is your favorite children's author?
"I love Shel Silverstein’s poetry as it is very silly and funny. They say it’s healthy to laugh, so perhaps we should start each day by reading one of Shel’s poems."

Is there one children's book that you think had a profound effect on children and society as a whole? 
"I remember reading The Diary of Anne Frank and feeling a sense of shock and disbelief."

Where is your book available for purchase?
"My books are available through all booksellers, nature stores (like Wild Birds Unlimited.) and my website www.chippychipmunk.com"

"I Spy" Books Never Go Out of Style

My 6-year-old son loves I Spy books. Most nights before bed, I make a deal with him. He reads me a story (you know, to practice his reading), and I will let him "read" one or two pages of an I Spy book. He has about 12 books in his collection, ranging from I Spy Christmas: A Book of Picture Riddles to I Spy Letters. Tonight, we read I Spy School Days.

It's amazing that even after reading these books many times, he does not get tired of them. If there was an item in a picture he couldn't find before, you can bet he will try his hardest to find it now. That happened tonight. It was a picture of a bunny that he was never able to find. But tonight, he did.

The excitement and happiness on his face was priceless. This is the same enthusiasm he shows when he able to read something for the first time. Being a first-grader, he is still learning the basics of reading and trying to figure when a "c" or "g" is hard or soft or why the "e" is silent at the end of some words. But he wants to read. He loves books and will try to read them whether he understands the words or not.

This is what our kids today need. They should have a love for books that never goes out of style. If your child loves puzzles and wants to read, pick up an I Spy book at your nearest bookstore or online. Your child will love you for it, and you will love that he or she wants to read. The carousel below shows off some of more popular I Spy books available.

"The more you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you will go."

-- Dr. Seuss

The Adventures of Horrendous Hiccup Haddock III Continues...

I'd be remiss if I didn't talk about my daughter's favorite series of books. Since March 2010, she's been obsessed with How to Train Your Dragon. Now, she doesn't just love the movie of the same name. She is totally intrigued with the collection of books by Cressida Cowell from which the movie is based. As of this writing, there are seven books in the series, with the first How to Train Your Dragon, released in 2003. She has read all of them -- at least five times. She said she lost count!

How to Break a Dragon's Heart

The third book in the series, How to Speak Dragonese, is her favorite. As she puts it, Toothless, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III's loyal dragon is captured. It's up to Hiccup to prove himself a Viking hero. (Note: I'm still trying to figure out how this tale is different from the other books in the series, but she says it is. Who am I to argue with the expert?)

However, she is most excited about the eighth book, How to Break a Dragon's Heart, which is due out in November 2011. The publishers describe the book as: "Stranded on the exceptionally dangerous, and possibly haunted, Beach of the Broken Heart, Hiccup must face Ug the Uglithug and complete the Impossible Task -- or die trying. Along the way, he'll have to battle Beserks, dodge Scarers, and save Fishlegs from being fed to the Beast, all while being hunted down by an old enemy with a dark secret about the mysterious Lost Throne. With Toothless by his side, and time to stage his rescue running out, what's a Hero to do?"

My daughter has always been excited about reading. It's great to see her so worked up about a book! It's one of the few things she wants for her birthday. K started reading before kindergarten and always has a book within her reach. I hope her love of reading continues with her always!

Interview with Children's Author Don Hoffman

It's imperative in this day and age that children -- and yes, even some adults -- need reminders about fire safety. It's unfortunate though that fire-related accidents still top the news, especially as the cooler weather sets in. When instructing your young ones about fire safety, make sure it includes lessons from the ever-faithful, Sparky the Fire Dog.

Don Hoffman

For more than 60 years, Sparky the Fire Dog has been an influential figure in fire prevention and education. The National Fire Protection Association created him in 1951 as part of an Advertising Council campaign. Today, he plays a large role in NFPA's Fire Prevention Week each October.

In honor of the fire dog's birthday, children's author Don Hoffman recently published a book outlining safety tips for children. Sparky the Fire Dog is a fun yet important story about how Sparky got his start working in fire safety. You can also read the review of Sparky the Fire Dog on my children's book website.

Hoffman, who lives in the Upper East Side of Manhattan with his Champion English Bulldog, Turbo, is an Emmy Award-winning children's book author and a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators fellow. He recently took some time out of his busy schedule to chat with me about Sparky and his love of children's books.

Tell me about your background as a children's author. Where did you grow up and did that have any influence on your career as an author?
"I have done many things and lived in many places and states. A former television news reporter, TV host, director of communications and public affairs for one of the largest school districts in the United States, clothes salesperson at Neiman Marcus and a home health aide for mentally retarded adults, all have given me a vast diverse amount of life experiences to "pull" from.

"I think though, the most important experience came when I was just 17 -- when my mother died. Just two years before her death, my mom gave birth to my sister, Esther. She then became sick and I helped care for Esther. I look back at that now and realize that really was a life altering experience.

"It was that time being with my sister and taking care of her the first idea for a children's book came to me. I was at the playground with my sister.  We lived in Brooklyn, and my sister and I were running around acting crazy.  All of the sudden a little boy and a girl came running over to us and wanted to show off their new sneakers and that they were learning to "tie" their own laces. I also heard about their new bike and how one was even starting to use a potty chair, because, as they said, 'We are big boys and big girls' and can do that now. That day, and that experience, stuck with me.

"A few years later I wrote my very first book, Billy is a Big Boy, about a boy celebrating his fifth birthday by telling everyone at the party all the things that he can do now that he was a big boy.  This self-esteem book was first published in hardcover, and the sales were so brisk that it was then picked up by a larger publishing company which released it in paperback. After phenomenal sales, the same published released Abigail is a Big Girl.  In all, the Billy and Abigail series comprised four titles in which the title characters did some great and fun things together.

"The success of that series ultimately lead to my relationship with Scholastic. My most recent title for them, A Very Special Snowflake, is one of Scholastic Book's Top Sellers-- selling more than one million copies!"

Sparky the Fire Dog

Why did you write "Sparky the Fire Dog?"
"As a children’s author, my goal is to write books that will help kids learn and grow, and I’ve always been a big believer in using animals to help kids relate to important and sometimes difficult situations.  When I was approached by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to write a book in celebration of the 60th birthday of Sparky the Fire Dog, I could not have been more honored and excited. As the NFPA’s official mascot and spokesdog, Sparky has long played an important role in communicating fire safety to kids and families."

Did you plan to release this book in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week?
"Absolutely! The release of Sparky the Fire Dog coincides with Sparky’s 60th birthday and Fire Prevention Week (October 9-15, 2011), an annual public awareness campaign sponsored by the NFPA.  It focuses on the small actions that can make a big difference in protecting your family from fire. These actions include creating a home escape plan, installing and checking home smoke alarms and installing home fire sprinklers."

What do you hope readers will get from this book?
"In Sparky the Fire Dog, Sparky takes a group of young animals through the neighborhood, pointing out potential hazards, giving basic fire prevention and safety tips, and showing them how to be prepared in case of an emergency. From having a working smoke alarm to being careful with candles and knowing where your exits are, Sparky’s advice may be the most important thing children—and their parents—ever learn. 
 
"I very much hope that adults will benefit from the book as much as children. We all remember learning fire safety lessons from firefighters or Sparky when we were in school, but many of us may not have carried all the crucial fire safety practices we once learned into our day-to-day lives as adults."


Who is your favorite children's author?
"This is an easy answer for me -- Dr. Seuss.   He did amazing things with amazing wonderful animals that kids always remember. Hard to say which book is my favorite from his amazing collection --but I would have to say Green Eggs and Ham. I even made my mom make green eggs for me, or rather a close approximation.  The result?  'I shouldn’t have eaten them, Sam I Am.' "

Is there one children's book that you think had a profound effect on children and society?
"The Story of Ferdinand the bull.  This Oscar-winner was ahead of its time – a charming story that centers around a bull who preferred to sit under trees and smell flowers to fighting with his fellow animals. I remember when I first read it: It made me realize that it was OK to be different, and that being yourself is something you should celebrate.  There is no more lesson as important for kids and society to learn."

Where is your book available for purchase?
“Sparky the Fire Dog is available where books are sold and through school and public libraries, as well as many online venues. Customers may call (800) 255-3214 for ordering information or they can purchase books through our website at www.charlesbridge.com.”