Thursday, May 17, 2018

Book Birthday Blog Tour + Giveaway with Jackie Azua Kramer

Dear Friends,

Please welcome back, Jackie Azua Kramer, who has a wonderful new picture book just released this May. Enchanting illustrations coupled with Jackie’s lyrical text will make this book a treasured bedtime read aloud with your little ones. 

AND, there’s a comment contest giveaway. This time the book will be sent direct from the publisher, Clavis Books. Jackie will send a personalized bookplate to the winner on request. Simply leave a comment below and your name will be entered for a chance to win.

Writing from the Inside Out. . .   with  Jackie Azua Kramer


In sharing parenthood with friends, inevitably we end up laughing and/or crying about the nights spent trying to get our kids to bed. 
Just when you want to snuggle in with a good book and a cup of tea your little darling has a hundred and one excuses for why they can’t sleep. 
1: I’m not sleepy
2: I’m thirsty or hungry or both.
3: I’m scared.
4: There’s a bug in my room.
5: There’s a bug in my water.

You get the picture...

If this is true for you and your pesky night owl, in If You Want to Fall Asleep you might discover you’re not alone.
The sweet bedtime battle between Little Mouse’s endless reasons for why he can’t sleep and his mother’s loving and imaginative suggestions was inspired from personal experience. I spent more nights then I care to remember, opening dresser drawers, toy chests and closets, shooing monsters from my daughter’s room. 

I treasure the bedtimes I once had snuggled together reading books with my children. I hope you and your little one will smile seeing yourselves in Mama Mouse and Little Mouse. A night filled with daring pirates, mountains of pancakes, floating among the stars…and wait for yawning. And stretching. And sleepy thoughts. And drowsy eyes. Fingers crossed. 


Meet the author:


Jackie Azúa Kramer was born in Manhattan, NY. She has worked as an actor, singer, and school counselor. Jackie’s work with children presented her with an opportunity to address their concerns, secrets and hopes through storytelling. Her award-winning picture book, The Green Umbrella (North South Books) won the Parents’ Choice Silver Medal and chosen 2017 Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year. It’s been translated into German, Slovenian, Chinese and Russian.
Out soon--The Boy and the Eight Hundred Pound Gorilla (Candlewick Press, 2020); That’s for Babies and Miles Won’t Smile (Clavis Books, TBD). Jackie lives with her family and writes under a canopy of trees in Long Island, NY.
Learn more about Jackie and her books: Jackieazuakramer.com

"Especially notable." -- Booklist, Spring Preview
"Lulling language, key bedtime trigger words, and gentle repetition are sure to help tiny eyes close. Children will enjoy witnessing Little Mouse's mischief and that of his many toys….A common nighttime predicament with a few not-so-common solutions.” ― Kirkus Reviews


You may recall Jackie’s debut picture book, The Green Umbrella, featured here a year ago!


Illustrated in spreads that alternate the rainy-day narrative in vignettes with full-bleed spreads that allow the flight-of-fancy retellings to render a deeper mood, the animals' stories are delightfully descriptive...The lesson about sharing and generosity is elegantly wrapped around lovely language. (Kirkus Reviews)




THANK YOU, Dear Friends, for joining the BOOK BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION with Jackie Azua Kramer and for leaving a comment below. The winner of If You Want to Fall Asleep will be announced on May 23rd.




24 comments:

  1. Yay! I love picture books, especially bedtime stories. Hope this book as as successful as Green Umbrella. Congratulations, Jackie. :)

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    1. Thanks for joining the Book Birthday celebration, Gayle.
      Your name is entered for a chance to win, If You Want to Fall Asleep.

      Delete
  2. Happy book birthday, Jackie! This sounds like another wonderfully fun read.

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    1. Thank you, Kathy, for joining the celebration of Jackie’s new book. Your name is entered for a chance to win the bedtime picture book, IF YOU WANT TO FALL ASLEEP.

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  3. Will be anxious to read this one! Love read-alouds!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Rosemary! IF YOU WANT TO FALL ASLEEP will not disappoint. It’s a bedtime treasure.

      Your name is entered for a chance to win!

      Delete
  4. Happy Book Birthday! This looks like an adorable picture book and one I can definitely relate to. My little night owl would love this!

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    1. Delighted that you stopped by, Amy. I bet your little night owl would love IF YOU WANT TO FALL ASLEEP!

      Your name is entered for a chance to win this bedtime treasure!

      Your name

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  5. This looks wonderful. Will share on FB and twitter!

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    1. Thanks for joining the celebration and for sharing around the web, Carol!

      Your name is entered for a chance to win Jackie’s newest picture book.

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  6. Congratulations, Jackie! Looking forward to hearing Little Mouse's excuses and how Mama finally gets him to sleep. And thank you, too, Clara.

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    1. What a sweet comment, Rose! Thanks so much for joining the Book Birthday Celebration for Jackie! Cheers!

      Your name is entered for a chance to win this adorable book.

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  7. I would love to own this book. Clavis is putting out some great quality picture books lately. Congrats Jackie.

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    1. It is a beautiful book, Tara! Thank you so much for joining the Book Birthday party for Jackie!

      Your name is entered for a chance to win IF YOU WANT TO FALL ASLEEP.

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  8. What a charming book and illustrations! Delightful!

    jsmith[delete brackets]3may[delete brackets]2011

    [at symbol]

    yahoo[dot]com

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    1. Thanks for joining the Book Birthday celebration, John! And thanks for including your contact information, since this is your first time here.

      Your name is entered for a chance to win IF YOU WANT TO FALL ASLEEP.

      Delete
  9. Sounds delightful! Congratulations, Jackie!

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    1. Thanks for joining Jackie’s Book Birthday party, Joyce! Looking forward to featuring your new book later this year!

      You name is added for a chance to win IF YOU WANT TO FALL ASLEEP.

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  10. Congratulations, Jackie! I love THE GREEN UMBRELLA and I look forward to reading IF YOU WANT TO FALL ASLEEP

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    1. Thanks for supporting authors and good books, Tracey, and for joining the Book Birthday celebration by leaving a comment!

      Your name is entered for a chance to win IF YOU WANT TO FALL ASLEEP.

      Delete
  11. This books looks and sounds so sweet! Happy Book Birthday!

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    1. Jilanne, So lovely of you to stop by with book greetings for Jackie! Thank you!

      Your name is entered for a chance to win IF YOU WANT TO FALL ASLEEP.

      Delete
  12. Congratulations, Jackie! I love the cover. Such a sweet mouse on the cover.

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    1. So sweet of you to stop by, Janet! Thanks for joining the celebration for Jackie’s new book!

      Your name is entered for a chance to win IF YOU WANT TO FALL ASLEEP!

      Delete