Review: Kindertransport by Kena Sosa

 

Kindertransport 

by Kena Sosa, illustrated by Jeanne Conway

Review by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Kindertransport by Kena Sosa is the touching story of a young Jewish girl in Germany who gets onboard the Kindertransport train headed for England.

In the days before the outbreak of World War II, Helen finds herself trapped inside her house. Unable to understand why her family’s life has changed so suddenly, she worries as Vater’s mood changes and Mutter pretends she doesn’t like eggs simply so Helen will have enough to eat. Then one day, Mutter tells her to pack her suitcase so she can ride a train that will bring her to England until the danger is over.

Sosa has done a fabulous job of bringing to life the experiences of so many Jewish children in the days before the war started. She captures the emotions, the frustrations, the uncertainty Helen feels as life has changed. I’m sure the interviews she conducted with Jewish survivors helped flesh out the details, and it is that research that allowed her to create such an incredible story. An afterword shares more about Kindertransport, and a list of materials used in the research for the book is included.

Accompanying Sosa’s moving text are the black and white illustrations by Jeanne Conway. The burning of Vater’s bookstore, how Helen clings to her bunny as she packs, and the hope Helen feels as she holds on to the ship’s railing on her way to England are all brought to life by Conway. 

Kindertransport might be one of the most stirring books I read this year. I highly recommend it to readers everywhere.

Kindertransport and other books by Kena Sosa are available at https://www.4rvpublishing.com/kena-sosa.html and other online retailers. 

Review: Where Did Panther Go? by Vivian Zabel

 

Where Did Panther Go?

by Vivian Zabel, illustrated by Carrie Salazar

Review by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Join along with Katie and Panther as that curious black kitty gets into all sorts of mischief.

One day, Uncle Chris brings Katie a new friend. Panther is a black kitten with mint-green eyes and a white spot on his tummy. They like to play games together, and Katie makes up a song when they play hide-and-seek that makes Panther jump out. But, one day, Panther is lost, and Katie fears he won’t be found. 

What a cute story! Where Did Panther Go? by Vivian Zabel is perfect for cat lovers of all ages. The first of Panther’s adventures, this series is sure to delight young readers. 

Artist Carrie Salazar provides the adorable artwork for Where Did Panther Go? That mint-green cover, the inside of Katie’s room, and Panther stretched out on the grass are some of my favorite images.

Zabel includes Panther’s Song lyrics, cat facts, and more! If you like cats or sweet stories, Where Did Panther Go? is the perfect choice.

Where Did Panther Go? and other books by Vivian Zabel can be found at http://www.4rvpublishing.com/vivian-zabel.html and other online retailers. 

Review: If You Swallow That Seed ...

 

If You Swallow That Seed

Written by Wayne Harris-Wyrick Illustrated by Matthew Hughes Published by 4RV Publishing, 2015

Review By Kena Sosa

 

Parents say the weirdest things. In the case of the story, If You Swallow That Seed, a mother’s words literally sprout into action. The main character is shocked to find carrots growing out of his ears after swallowing a seed just as his mother warned him. He puts the carrots to good use feeding horses, but before he can overcome his problem, his mother has even more wacky comments to say and they all come true!

 

The boy shows determination time and time again, finding solutions to the weirdness until it gets out of hand. Matthew Hughes’ illustrations are full of texture, adding dimension and additional flavor to the story, especially in the cover illustration where we see the boy and his horses enjoying their role in the adventure.

 

Kids will get a kick out of this story and connect with it as they’ve been confused by their own parent’s idioms and sayings. A story that feels straight out of the childhood of the author, Wayne Harris-Wyrick, this book takes it further than just one metaphor. Swallowing the first seed is only the beginning of the adventure of what happens when words are taken literally. It is packed with excitement, fun and a great segway into the silly and savvy world of idioms and sayings.

 

Copies of If You Swallow That Seed … can be ordered from the 4RV Bookstore  or from other online and physical stores.

4RV Seasonal Favorites

 

After the war, factories began to make toys again, and Ellouise discovers a marvelous surprise when her parents take her to the city to see Santa Claus, a baby doll that opens and closes its eyes.

She tells everyone that she wants that baby doll from Santy Claus.

Then, she worries about Santa Claus being able to find her at her grandparents'. Will Ellouise get her baby doll from Santy Claus?

Joseph and his wife, Mary, expect a baby. With all that is happening, including the government requiring a census, Joseph feels a little overwhelmed and a bit left out of the preparations for the baby. Is there something he can do?

Christmas, a time of magic and gifts, comes to a halt when stolen presents and electrical problems hit the North Pole. ​ What can Santa or his elves do? What can two girls do? Joy and Mary are the only ones who can save Christmas.

What can Santa and Martha Claus do when their elves are playing too much to make all the Christmas toys? The toys must be made by December 24th, so Mr. and Mrs. Claus find a perfect solution.

Christmas is the time for miracles, but sometimes, a child must make her own miracle, and one for her siblings.

Find these and more at www.4rvpublishing.com

Wishing you a joyous and peaceful Christmas season!

My 4RV Favorites

When searching for a publisher for your work, it's important to get to know them; see what they publish, read some of their books, figure out how your work might fit. I followed 4RV Publishing for years before I sent them my manuscript that became A Christmas Kindness. This gave me a chance to review several of  their titles. Here are a few of my favorites.

Eighth grade starts out the same as every other year for Breeze Brannigan. Then she meets Cam, the new boy in school whospeaks with an accent and must be from another planet, for none of the earthling boys she knows are so polite. He also has a secret, a secret that could mean life or death for Cam and his mother and that Breeze must help him keep.

For months, Breeze Brannigan has heard nothing from Cam, the prince she met at school and who disappeared one night without telling her goodbye. The night she graduates from middle school, however, he contacts her and invites her to visit Isla del Fuego, his home. Who could refuse such an invitation?

Breeze, along with her whole family and best friends, Amy and Allison, soon sail to the island, where she and Cam renew their friendship. But, danger lurks; a legend comes to life; and Breeze finds herself in the middle of a battle that can have only one winner.

Which has the better chance of helping, a wish or a prayer?

Joseph and his wife, Mary, expect a baby. With all that is happening, including the government requiring a census, Joseph feels a little overwhelmed and a bit left out of the preparations for the baby. Is there something he can do?

Cheryl C. Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of Little Shepherd, A Christmas Kindness, Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving and the recently released, Amos Faces His Bully. A blogger and book reviewer, she lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two daughters. She also has a son who is married. Visit Cheryl online at http://ccmalandrinos.com and her children’s book blog at https://childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com

Kindertransport now in Children's Lit Holocaust Database

     In the early 1930's, the Nazi persecution of Jews and other minorities began. Adults lost jobs, couldn't provide for their families, became discouraged and despondent, were sent to prisons. However, their greatest fear -- What would happen to their children?

     Therefore, just before the outbreak of World War II, the Nazis pushed Jewish families to do something they never imagined they would. They sent their children away on a train to faraway places to live with strangers so that they would be safe until the danger passed. 

     In Kena Sosa's tale of a young Jewish girl, she involves readers in the ordeal suffered by Helen, whose parents do what they must to save her: They send her away. As she gets on-board the Kindertransport, a train to hope, ten-year-old Helen will never be the same, but she will be saved.

     Holocaust Children's Literature provides a website that includes a database of stories and books written for children concerning the Holocaust, a period in history that needs to be documented and remembered.

     If a person searches for "Kena Sosa" in the database,  the information for Kindertransport: a chld's journey will appear. 

     Kindertransport can be purchased on the 4RV Bookstore (at the bottom of the page), as well as through other bookstores, online and brick and mortar.  

4RV website  

Vivian Zabel, President of 4RV Publishing

Traditional Publishing House based in Edmond Oklahoma

WEBSITE     BOOKSTORE     TWITTER     FACEBOOK

Where to start your story

In the first long work of fiction I wrote, I made the classic beginner's mistake of starting the story too soon., with two chapters of backstory.

I wrote the first version of the book, "The Angry Little Boy," which will be published by 4RV sometime next year, in a weekend. Then I spent the next couple of years learning enough about fiction writing to make it publishable, including signing up for an online course on revising and editing. The first assignment was to post a chapter and revise it.

Taking a look at the first two chapters, I decided they would be poor material for the assignment, so I chose chapter three. It was one of those moments of clarity or perhaps sheer blind luck. Ultimately, with the help of the instructor, I cut out the first two chapters entirely. The necessary information, quite a bit less than I originally had, ended up as a flashback.

Determined not to stumble into the same pit twice, I searched for a method to determine where to start a story. Simply put, where to start is where the story begins, and where it begins depends on what the story is about, which means writing down the key concept.

In my story, a  little boy loses his mother in a fire, but the adults around him are too immersed in their own grief to pay attention to him and help him with his.  Formulated this way, it was clear that the action started when my main character arrives at his grandmother's house. His mother is dead and father in the hospital. The first two chapters, for which I had done quite a lot of research, were about the fire and her death, not about what happens after, and so I cut them.

While stating the core concept of a story may not be quick or easy -- it took me a couple of weeks of staring at my first few chapters to figure out the core concept for my current work-in-progress -- it serves as a guide to both where to start, and how to focus the story. Begin at the beginning, not before.

Life on Hold awarded Children's Literary Classics Silver Seal

         4RV Publishing received notice that Life on Hold by Beverly Stowe McClure was awarded Children's Literary Classics' Silver Seal. All authors of children's and young adult books should seek this honor.

    Literary Classics, believes literature is a critical component in the development of young minds. Through well-crafted literature, they foster creative thinking, enhance word recognition, improve cognitive skills, and help achieve a greater understanding of people and the world around us. 

     Literary Classics provides book reviews for children's and young adult books.  They also offer an international book award program and endorse exceptional literature through their Literary Classics Seal of Approval (a gold seal and a silver seal per category). Life on Hold met the high standards and received the silver seal.

        Congratulations to Beverly, and she has more books in the works. 

           4RV now has two books with CLC Silver Seals: Life on Hold and Walking Through Walls by Karen Cioffi, illustrated by Aidana WillowRaven (who also created the cover for Life on Hold). Both books can be found on the 4RV Bookstore.

Got Characters?

By Suzanne Cordatos

www.suzannecordatos.blogspot.com

Need someone new to fill out your cast of characters?

Attend your Summer Reunion!

If you are a writer holding an invitation to a reunion this summer, what are you waiting for? RSVP YES!

Not only will you reconnect with old friends or family, but your attendance will be rewarded with a surprising roster of characters to add to your writing power!

Not everyone enjoys a reunion, especially if the initial experience was one that took several years to forget let alone spend money for hotel and gas in order to remember. High school reunions usually elicit a "meh" from me, but this summer an invitation came to a reunion I couldn't refuse: a once-in-a-lifetime 30 year reunion of a camp staff I had worked with as a teenager. I had spent a few nearly idyllic summers on a lake in western NY working as a cabin counselor and waterfront/boating staffer at the most wonderful camp in the world. I had to go.

The promise of being 17 Again (i.e. sans the spouse and kids for an entire weekend) was enticing…It's the title of a fun Zac Efron movie and exactly the way I felt driving from Connecticut across New York state.

"You look exactly the same!" "Really? So do you!"

Teenage years are spent running along the brink of life, deciding the biggies: what to do with our lives, where to attend college, what values to stand for and who to love. Exciting summers filled with goofy, spontaneous fun and deep conversations. Endless days of lakeside fun and evening songs around the bonfire. It was a personal thrill to see beloved faces and hear voices that remained familiar after three decades of silence. 

The writer in me found a gold mine. 

"Gotta be some golden characters in them thar hills!"

Changes are not so obvious in people you see daily or even yearly. A reunion provides an opportunity to compare how people were “back then” with a snapshot of the “now.” 

Those yearbooks proclaiming some faces as “most likely to” probably actually really didn’t; in my reunion’s example, the “class clown” turned out to be one of the most successful as marketing director of a company that is a household name around the globe.With a collision of “what was” and “what is” in front of your eyes, your writer’s mind will easily be energized, like a magician conjuring many “in between” stories.

Try it for yourself! Have you met new characters this summer?

How to Host a Book Launch Party

How to Host a Book Launch Party

 by Suzanne Cordatos

www.suzannecordatos.blogspot.com

I had the recent pleasure of attending the book launch party of my writing friend—and fellow 4RV author—Kristine Carlson Asselin. In a suburb of Boston, Kris launched her first picture book, Worst Case of Pasketti-it is. It was a great time and a huge success. You can pull off a great book launch, too!

Where?

An easy jog off a major highway, Kris held her party in the welcoming community room of a local library. 80 people attended, including curious walk-in library patrons!

Who to Invite?

Invite people most likely to tell others about your book: family, friends, librarians, teachers, reporters. Invite a photo buff to send pics to author’s website, blog, Facebook fan page, local papers. Kids added zing to Kris’ author Q & A time.

Make it a Party!

Kris used an online invitation service called “evite” to get the word out. Balloons and a large poster of the book cover welcomed guests outside the front door. Inside, more balloons and entertaining activities were quick attention-grabbers.

Stations

"Be sure to include family and friends in the planning of your party,” advises Kris. “They are excited for you and will often push you to be more "out there" than you would on your own. I'm sometimes embarrassed to "sell" myself, but my family and good friends aren't shy about it at all!"

Kris put family members to work at various stations:

Welcome table

Greet people personally. A welcome poster and sign-in list near the door helps add walk-ins to your mailing list. Have a stack of business cards, bookmarks or postcards printed with book cover design and easy order information.

Activities for kids

Kris’ main character loves pasta, so she had a fun guessing contest: How many pieces of macaroni in the jar? Offer a prize because hey, who doesn’t like a goody bag? Have crayons handy and coloring pages made of your characters. Relate a craft to your book. Kris had colorful yarn and pasta shapes for necklaces.

Food

Kris had a beautiful cake courtesy of her parents for the launch. At regular book events, you might want to offer simple candy, store-bought cookies or pretzels.

Book Buying

Assign a family member or friend to manage ongoing sales for you throughout the event. Make it easy for people to order books after the event by tucking a business card or bookmark with information in every copy sold. Extra cards on the table help guests purchase books later if they are not prepared at your event with cash.

Entertainment: YOU

This part can be intimidating, but authors who want to sell books have to put themselves out there. An ongoing slideshow of art from her book kept guests entertained until the presentation. Kris read the story along with a slide presentation of her adorable book. To prepare Kris says, “Be sure to practice reading your excerpt aloud a few times. Add inflection and pauses to make the read interesting. And be sure to project so that everyone in the room can hear you." Include time for Q&A for guests to ask about the story’s origins, getting published, etc.

 

Kris Asselin and Jessica Cordatos

Book Signing table

Kris invited everyone to stay for cake and crafts. And, of course, she signed books with a beaming smile for as long as people wanted her to!  More information about author Kris Carlson Asselin:

Director, SCBWI New England Regional Conference
May 2-4, 2014 in Springfield, Massachusetts
Web: nescbwi.org ~ Twitter: @nescbwi ~ Email: nescbwi14@gmail.com
Find me on Twitter @KristineAsselin
Find me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/kristinecarlsonasselin

Visit my website: www.kristineasselin.com

Children's Books Week a Week Late

by Vivian Zabel

by Ginger Nielson by permission

     I didn't realize last week was children's book week until I saw these adorable images by Ginger Nielson on Facebook. I asked if I could use them, and she gave me permission. Since our schedule for last week was filled, except for one day, I decided we would celebrate children's book week a week later so we could share for a longer period of time.

    We have so many excellent children's books that I'll cover Tween and Teen (middle grade and young, young adults) another time. For this article, let's look at as many of the picture books from 4RV Publishing as we can (even if I have to use smaller sized fonts for the text). I'll go in alphabetical order by titles, adding other titles by the same author in the same paragraph.

A Christmas Kindness by C.C. Gevry and illustrated by Caroline Mabey.

A Dinner Date for Dilly, A New Friend for Dilly, A New Job for Dilly, and more to come in the series by Rena Jones and now illustrated by Ginger Nielson. Also, Lemur Troops & Critter Groups,  Stork Musters & Critter Clusters, Pony Strings & Critter Things, and Rhino Crashes & Critter Classes by Rena Jones and now illustrated by Ginger Nielson. The Mashmallow Man by Rena Jones and illustrated by Stephen Macquignon.

A Puppy, Not a Guppy by Holly Jahangiri and illustrated by Ryan Shaw, and Trockle (4RV's first children's book) by Holly, illustrated by Jordan Vinyard.

A Wish and a Prayer, In My Bath, and Carla's Cloud Catastrophe by  Beth Bence Reinke and illustrated by Ginger Nielson.

Alistair the Alligator by Harry Porter (aka Brian Porter) and illustrated by Amanda Sorensen, Tilly's Tale and Dylan's Tale by Harry/Brian, illustrated by Mandy Hedrick.

Angeline Jellybean by  Chrystalee Calderwood and illustrated by Stephen Macquignon.

by Ginger Nielson, with permission

 Bait for Lunch by  K.A. Okagaki and illustrated by Ryan 
 Shaw.

  Being Jacob: A Day at the Zoo and Being Jacob: First
 Day of School by Suzy Koch and illustrated by Aidana
 WillowRaven.

 Boo's Bad Day by Penny Lockwood and illustrated by
 Deborah C. Johnson.

 Ferdinand Frog's Flight by Marvin Mayer and illustrated 
 by Stephen Macquignon.

 Gunther the Underwater Elephant and Willow, an
 Elephant's Tale written and illustrated by Ginger
 Nielson.

 If Fish Could Drive by  Dana Warren and illustrated by
 Stephen Macquignon.

 If Wishes Were Fishes by N.A. Sharpe and illustrated by
 Ginger Nielson.

Libby the Odd Squirrel by Lea Schizas and illustrated by Stephen Macquignon.

Lion in the Living Room by Caelaach McKinna and illustrated by A.R. Stone. Little Charlie Thornpaws by Caelaach and illustrated by Ginger Nielson.

My Cat by Tony LoPresti and illustrated by Deborah C. Johnson.

Priscilla Holmes: Ace Detective and Priscilla Holmes and the Case of the Glass Slipper by John Lance and illustrated by Diana Navarro. More to come in the series when an illustrator can be found. 

Porcupine's Seeds by Viji Chary and illustrated by Bridget McKenna.

Sammy the Shivering Snowblower by Mike McNair and illustrated by Ginger Nielson.

Spider in Our Mailbox by Linda Asato and illustrated by Ryan Shaw

Strangers in the Stable by Jim Laughter and illustrated by Aidana WillowRaven.

The First Miracle by L.A. Willis and illustrated by Aidana WillowRaven.

Tumbleweed Christmas by Beverly Stowe McClure and illustrated by Bridget McKenna

Why Am I Me? by Wayne Harris-Wyrick and illustrated by Stephen Macquignon

Coming soon:

The Worse Case of Pasketti-itis by Kristine Asselin and illustrated by Luisa Gioffre-Suzuki.

Kimmey Finds Her Key by Wayne Harris-Wyrick

I Like Pink by Vivian Zabel and illustrated by Ginger Nielson

Plus 14 other picture books on the 2013 schedule

P.S. Don't forget to vote for 4RV in the Staples competition:  http://tinyurl.com/a7hrdmv 

     All 4RV books can be found on the 4RV Bookstore.