Friday, December 11, 2015

ANNOUNCING THE LUCKY WINNER OF MOUSE'S CHRISTMAS COOKIE!!!

Dear friends,


The Lucky winner of Mouse's Christmas Cookie is:

*******Pam Zollman********


Congratulations, PAM!!! Please e-mail me with your mailing address and how you'd like your book personalized by Pat. (claragillowclark(at)gmail(dot)com. Your book should reach you before Christmas!


Check out this perfect pick for a heartwarming winter read: 
Here's the link: Red Sled
Patricia Thomas, Chris L. Demarest

School Library Journal--PreSchool-Grade 1—A father and son go sledding down a hill one snowy night in this charming picture book. The brief text consists of easy-to-read words in rhyming pairs ("Still hill./Far star./Snow aglow"). According to an author's note, the structure of the story-poem was inspired by an ancient writing pattern called chiasmus, "a format that creates a kind of mirror image." Bright watercolor pictures capture perfectly the downcast faces of the characters when they are stuck inside during a snowstorm ("Sad lad./Sad dad"), their expressions of happiness and excitement during their nocturnal adventure on the red sled ("Go! Go!/Whoa! Whoa!"), and their cozy contented smiles as they enjoy hot chocolate back home afterward ("Snug hug"). This is a great book for storytime and one-on-one sharing, and beginning readers will be able to follow the simple language presented in large black script.—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT


It's a grand to give, but honestly it's pretty fun to receive, too! Today wraps up the book giveaways for this year, but there will be many more in 2016--some new authors and new books, but also authors you know and books you've come to love.  
  Wishing you all the joy and wonder of the season! ~Clara

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

MOUSE'S CHRISTMAS COOKIE

Dear Friends,

In this post, my dear friend and author of many picture books for children, Patricia Thomas, talks about her inspiration for her newest book, Mouse's Christmas Cookie, and about her delight in the Christmas season.

Patricia Thomas writes. . . 

Mouse's Christmas Cookie

Okay. I confess. I am a Christmas junkie. I love everything about it: the decorations, the lights, the music, the food, the shopping. I even love wrapping. It’s a chance for non-artist me to turn a box into a work of art. Best of all, though, I love the stories. From Dickens’ beloved Christmas Carol to that much newer classic, The Grinch That Stole Christmas, those wonderful stories help us focus on the true heart and meaning of the season.

One of my favorites, perhaps lesser known is Gift of the Magi. In this classic tale by O. Henry, two poor, young newlyweds, determined to give their loved one the perfect gift, each sacrifice a prized possession in the attempt to do so. That story of unselfish generosity was the inspiration for my own Christmas book, Mouse’s Christmas Cookie.

The book also, incidentally, uses many of my own favorite memories in telling the tale: Jingle bell ornaments, Santa and sleigh on the mantle, Christmas stockings, and of course, trains. But it’s the mischievous mouse and a very determined cat that eventually express the Magi’s spirit of giving.




Thanks, Patricia, for sharing your heartwarming inspiration for Mouse's Christmas Cookie! It puts me in the joyful spirit of the season!

Now, something about the author in her own words:

I think I was destined to be a writer. I discovered the magic of rhyming words about as soon as I could talk; had my first poem published in Jack and Jill magazine when I was eight and knew immediately what my path would be.

Author Patricia Thomas
I grew up on a farm in western Pennsylvania, earned my degree from Penn State University, then worked as a copywriter and editor in just about every facet of the advertising business. Along the way, I married and raised a family of four—which has expanded to include in-law children, fourteen grandchildren, and eleven (soon to be thirteen great-grandchildren, which gives away my age unmercifully). Also along the way, I discovered that I was a children’s book writer.

Maybe it was my love of words and rhyme...or maybe my wacky sense of humor...or maybe it was having children of my own...or maybe it was all of this that led me to write my first book, "Stand Back, Said the Elephant, “I’m Going to Sneeze.” Thousands of copies (I have no idea how many) and more than 40 years later, kids are still giggling over the Elephant.

Rhyme is not my only medium, though. My books, stories, and articles cover a spectrum of styles, from the lyrical Firefly Mountain (named best book K-3, 2008 by the Poetry Center at Passaic College) …to Nature's Paintbox: A Seasonal Gallery in Art and Verse, an original poetic approach to nonfiction (a Booklinks lasting connection in poetry) …to such zany, nonsense verse classics as “There Are Rocks in My Socks,” Said the Ox to the Fox, The One-and-Only, Super-Duper, Golly-Whopper, Jim Dandy, Really Handy Clock Tock Stopper, and of course, the Elephant, which has been featured on the PBS Storytime series and even on Captain Kangaroo. In fact, the Elephant has gone multi-lingual. It is now published in a Korean edition, and most recently, I worked with a talented German composer to turn the Elephant into an operetta for children’s theater—produced in both German and English

A recent picture book, Red Sled, is written in a unique, deceptively simple style, based on an ancient writing form—but, as it turns out, is perfect for young readers. Among its numerous enthusiastic reviews are those from School Library Journal, Booklinks, and Horn Book, plus a starred review from Kirkus. My articles and stories have appeared in such magazines as Faces and Appleseeds, covering subjects from Arthurian legends to the Loch Ness monster to Benjamin Franklin.

My newest picture book is Mouse’s Christmas Cookie, a story for young readers, told mainly in onomatopoeia sounds—except for a single line of dialogue: “Stop, Mouse!” called out by a determined cat who pursues an equally determine mouse through the book. But the chase is not about what a reader might think.

I teach a college-accredited course in writing for children for the Institute of Children’s Literature, and present writing workshops for children and adults, while also serving as senior writer/editor in the Communications and Marketing Department at Marywood University.

Great News: Author Patricia Thomas is giving away an autographed copy of Mouse’s Christmas Cookie to one lucky reader who leaves a comment! The winner will be announced on Friday, December 11th! What do you love about the Holiday Season? We'd love to know! 

Check out Mouse's Christmas Cookie on amazon by clicking on the link below:

Mouse's Christmas Cookie



Patricia Thomas will make a guest appearance again in March for the release of a new book, GREEN BEAN! GREEN BEAN! Sounds intriguing, doesn't it? 


Saturday, December 5, 2015

ANNOUNCING THE LUCKY WINNER OF ROCK STAR SANTA!!!!!

Dear friends,

What a pleasure for us to see so many of you join the Rock Star Santa Party! Thank you so much! The WINNER generated by Random.org is. . . Amy Flederbach. 
                                     **********************************
                              CONGRATULATIONS, AMY!!! 
(Please e-mail me: claragillowclark(at)gmail(dot)com with your mailing address and the name of the child for whom you'd like it personalized!!!) 

Don't worry, dear readers, if Random.org didn't pick you this time, we have another Christmas picture book giveaway next week and many more giveaways coming in 2016! Be sure to check out this amazing video for Gayle C. Krause's young adult novel, RATGIRL:

RATGIRL: SONG OF THE VIPER
RATGIRL: Song of the Viper – a retelling of The Pied Piper set in a dystopian future with global warming. Available Amazon Link below:
http://www.amazon.com/Ratgirl-Viper-Gayle-C-Krause/dp/0991190408/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448115242 sr=8-1keywords=ratgirl+song+of+the+viper

The book trailer can be viewed at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRrVuYxmVFw



If you'd like to purchase ROCK STAR SANTA as a Christmas present, you can order it through Scholastics Book Club. http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/rock-star-santa#cart/cleanup

Next up on the Holiday Book Giveaway is Patricia Thomas and her very Christmassy picture book: Mouse's Christmas Cookie

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

AUTHOR GAYLE C. KRAUSE IS ROCKIN' WITH ROCK STAR SANTA!

               LIVE IN CONCERT – ONE NIGHT ONLY! 

ROCK STAR SANTA--BACK COVER
Children love Christmas and Santa. And together the combination can’t be beat. Put Santa in a unique setting (a concert stage), give him Mick Jagger’s sunglasses, Steven Tyler’s scarf, and a rockin’ reindeer band and you’ve got the makings of a fun Christmas story that puts a whole new spin on what happens Christmas Eve.

It’s Christmas Eve. The tree is lit and children await Santa’s arrival, only they’re not tucked snuggly in their beds dreaming of sugarplums. They’re stomping and clapping at a Christmas rock concert, where Santa is the “star.” Santa’s snow-white hair is in a ponytail and he’s ready to rock. The rowdy reindeer band includes Donner on electric bass, eerily resembling Keith Richard. Blitzen has a Paul Stanley-like star painted on his eye as he plays the drums, and you can’t help but notice the resemblance of Comet to Slash, as he shoots across the stage. It’s an original, modern day retelling of a Christmas classic, but what happens on this night before Christmas is rockin’.

ROCK STAR SANTA is proud to take his place among real ROCK STARS. The powerful sound of electric guitars, pounding bass, and crashing drums inspired Rock Star Santa’s birth.
Author with Rock Star Santa Fans and Santa Doll

Shortly after attending a Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas concert, I penned the verses for Rock Star Santa—my interpretation of a rock concert of kids. Written in lyrical rhyme, it’s a rollicking night before Christmas with a surprise twist.

Rock Star Santa has fans around the world. He performed over 157,000 concerts in the United States, Canada, England, and the Caribbean.


REAL ROCK STAR SANTA WITH KIDS FROM MONTSERRAT
He was even portrayed by a “real-life” rock star at his performance in Montserrat, British West Indies. Peter Fileul, keyboard player for the Climax Blues Band, so graciously agreed to be the “real-life” ROCK STAR SANTA. And this year he’s the star of the Kindergarten holiday performance in Melbourne, Australia. QUOTES & REVIEWS HERE:
http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/weblog/2009/11/20-of-the-best-kids-christmas-books.html/


Rock Star Santa by Gayle C. Krause (Author), Will Terry (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 3-7
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Scholastic
Holiday themes to expect: Santa
TCBR analysis: Kids will really enjoy the energy from this wildly fun take on Santa Claus.
Publisher’s synopsis: Santa Claus Live In Concert, One Night Only!

Gayle’s short stories and poems can be found in Hopscotch for Girls, Boy’s Quest, Highlights and various anthologies. She’s the author of Scheherazade’s Secret, a retelling of the Arabian Night’s Tale, and RATGIRL: SONG OF THE VIPER.


RATGIRL: SONG OF THE VIPER
RATGIRL: Song of the Viper – a retelling of The Pied Piper set in a dystopian future with global warming. Available from THE Amazon Link below:
http://www.amazon.com/Ratgirl-Viper-Gayle-C-Krause/dp/0991190408/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448115242&sr=8-1&keywords=ratgirl+song+of+the+viper
 

The book trailer can be viewed at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRrVuYxmVFw

ROCK STAR SANTA--FRONT COVER
Are you ready to rock? Santa and his rowdy reindeer band bring down the house on Christmas Eve! If you'd like to purchase ROCK STAR SANTA as a Christmas present, you can order it through Scholastics Book Club. http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/rock-star-santa#cart/cleanup

So what do you love most about Christmas? If you like the exact same thing Rock Star Santa does, he’ll be sending you a signed copy of his book. Just leave your comment below for a chance to win and have a “Rocking Christmas Eve!” The Winner will be announced on Saturday, December 5th. Thanks for stopping by!!!


You can contact Gayle at the links below:
                  
Author Gayle C. Krause

Website – www.gaylckrause.com
Twitter @GeeCeeK
Blog – http://thestorytellersscroll.blogspot.com







Saturday, November 28, 2015

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LUCKY WINNER!!!

The winner of this week's Holiday Giveaway for K.L.Going's wonderful new book, PIECES OF WHY is Leslie Widener

CONGRATULATIONS, Leslie!!! Please send me an e-mail with your address and to whom you'd like the book personalized: claragillowclark(at)gmail(dot)com. 

Don't forget to visit K.L.'s website: www.klgoing.com 


"A beleaguered bulldog tries herding cats in this high-anxiety comedy, Going’s (Fat Kid Rules the World) first picture book. In panels that open the tale, readers see the amiable Dog sitting, staying, and dancing on command-in a pink tutu, no less. Dog revels in hugs from his young owner, who instructs him to cat-sit while the family goes to the store. He benevolently eyes the five cats, and a thought-bubble shares his optimism: “First we will sit and then we will stay.” The cats have other plans, though, swiftly dispersing to wreak havoc on the kitchen counters and in the sooty fireplace (“‘Out,’ barked Dog. Swish! went the ashes”). Santat’s (Tom’s Tweet) overlapping comics panels suggest frenetic activity; spreads picture Dog running from room to room, and the repeated words “No cat. Or was there?” encourage readers to find pointy ears under a blanket or a tail protruding from a clothes hamper. With skillful use of repetition, an agreeable and entertaining animal cast, and a tidy ending of the best kind, dog people and cat people alike have reason to approve."—Publishers Weekly, starred review.

Christmas is coming and our next guest has the perfect gift for your young readers who love Rock Stars. Author Gayle Krause shares about her book, ROCK STAR SANTA, and she's offering a free book to one lucky reader who stops by to leave a comment! Come back for the fun!