Friday, October 30, 2015

#Kidlit Review - Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters


Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) review of my latest children's book!
Scheduled for release: December 2015


Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters is an endearing story to which all children can relate, whether or not they are a twin, as they take the big step to full time student. Twin sisters, Dee and Deb, are about to be separated for the first time ever on their first day of Kindergarten.

Ms. McDine’s voice paints a realistic picture of first day jitters and creates characters and a school experience which is easily relatable for kids. She does an excellent job of hitting the high points of what matters most to children this age—a friend to play and interact with in school and what happens entering a classroom not knowing anyone, and in this case without your best twin sister-friend, and having to choose a buddy from a sea of unfamiliar faces. 

Ms. McDine’s story reassures and helps kids be less concerned about what they will face as they begin their school journey. Dee and Deb is a delightful read that will leave children more excited than nervous for their first big day of Kindergarten.  

Mr. Foster’s colorful and detailed illustrations almost leap off the page and really bring the story to life, drawing the reader fully into Dee and Deb’s adventure. The reader feels Dee and Deb’s anxiety and excitement with each flip of the page. 


Well done, Donna McDine and Jack Foster. A must read for all children preparing for the beginning of their school career.

NOTE FROM REVIEWER KARIN LARSON: I did not receive monetary compensation nor any other incentive for my review.

Scheduled for release: December 2015

Category: Children’s Picture Book
Author: Donna M. McDine
Illustrator: Jack Foster
Print ISBN: 9781616336998
eBook ISBN: 9781616337001
Published: Guardian Angel Publishing, December 2015

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Multi Award-winning Children's Author

Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!

Connect with

Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters ~ December 2015 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Pre-Order Today

A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Historical Fiction 1st Place, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention Picture Books 6+, New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

#Literacy - 20th Annual Literacy Extravaganza at St. Thomas Aquinas College - Sparkill, NY

 
I'm delighted to be participating in the...

20th Annual Rockland Literacy Professional Conference 
Saturday, October 24, 2015 
7:45 am - 2:30 pm
St. Thomas Aquinas College 
Romano Center 
125 Route 340, Sparkill, NY 10976 

Learn on Saturday What You Can Teach Beginning Monday! 

Opening a World of Positive Possibilities for Real Life Literacy Reaching and Teaching All Students 
Across the Curriculum: PreK – 12 

Keynote Speakers 
Laura Robb 
“Engagement and Motivation Define Meaningful Learning” 
Literacy Coach, Educational Consultant and Teacher 
Author of more than 25 books for teachers – as well as articles in educational journals – on middle school reading, unlocking complex texts, close reading, and more! 
MiddleWeb Blog, “Our # 1 Reading Problem: Persistent Inequalities” 

Ruth Culham 
“Writing Is the New Black" 
Author of over 40 books and resources illuminating both writing and the reading-writing connection for countless educators around the globe. Groundbreaking work with the writing traits - the culmination of 40 years of research, practice, and passion.
President of The Culham Writing Company 
  • Complimentary continental breakfast 
  • 20 professional development workshops by excellent literacy specialists, PreK -12 
  • Publisher's display 
  • Free raffle for professional books and classroom resources 
  • Certificates of Attendance for professional requirements 
  • Author signings 
  • 5 hours professional learning, N.Y. and N.J. 
Register securely online www.rockteach.org (scroll down to Grant Funded Opportunities and click on link).

Pre-registration by October 22: $40 / Full time student: $25 Pre-registration closes on Thursday, Oct. 22 
On-site registration: $50 / Full time student: $30 

Rockland Reading Council Annual Membership: $20 with $10 instant rebate at RRC table at conference. 

Free RRC membership for full-time undergraduate and graduate students 

For more information: 

Dr. Michael Shaw, St. Thomas Aquinas College, mshaw@stac.edu 

Deborah Studnitzer, Rockland Teachers’ Center, dstudnitzer@optonline.net 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Multi Award-winning Children's Author

Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!

Connect with

Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters ~ December 2015 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Pre-Order Today

A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Historical Fiction 1st Place, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention Picture Books 6+, New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist

Thursday, October 15, 2015

#KidLit Endorsements ~ Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters


What People Are Saying...

“Author Donna McDine has a delightful way of supporting children through life's challenges and transitions. Her stories are realistic and feature likable characters that kids can easily relate to. With this book, she has lifted 'kindergarten anxiety' in a light and humorous way - leaving children with a smile on their face and an eagerness for new beginnings.” ~ Tina M. Games, certified creativity coach and author of "Journaling by the Moonlight: A Mother's Path to Self Discovery”  ~ http://moonlightmusepress.com 

“In Donna McDine’s PB, Dee and Deb Off They Go—Kindergarten First Day Jitters, fraternal twins Dee and Deb face separation in Kindergarten. This adorable book shows what happens on their first day. Like all kinders, they worry:  who will they talk to and play with. Dee’s smart teacher has a super idea for first day fears—choose a buddy. Ms. McDine’s cute book will reassure nervous kinder kids and their parents. Jack Foster’s charming artwork adds to readers’ enjoyment.” ~ Penelope Anne Cole, Award Winning Author of Magical Matthew, Magical Mea, and Ten Little Tricksters. ~ http://www.penelopeannecole.com/ 

Thank you Tina and Penny for your heartwarming endorsements!

Pre-order today!

Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Multi Award-winning Children's Author

Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!

Connect with

A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Historical Fiction 1st Place, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention Picture Books 6+, New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Welcome to the monthly installment of #IWSG


Welcome to the monthly installment of the Insecure Writer's Support Group - #IWSG! Can you hardly believe it's October already! The year is flying by and I wish it would slow down a bit!

The awesome co-hosts for the the October 7 
posting of the IWSG are:

TB Markinson

Tamara Narayan

Shannon Lawrence

Stephanie Faris

Eva E. Solar! 

Be sure to stop by and visit with them!

For a full listing of #IWSG participants, visit here.

I've been thinking about the word courage and what it means and what it takes to invoke it in one's life. 




Courage...

Definition:
noun

1.
the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face 
difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear;bravery.
Becoming an author takes an immense amount of courage. It's one thing to write our stories, it's a whole other thing to share our writing with our critique groups and eventually to an editor, agent or publisher. 

To me it's like releasing my children to school for the first time. It's heart wrenching watching our children go off on their own for the first time. Our writing is much like our "babies" being released into the world. Self doubt often creeps in, but don't let it wash away your courage. 


For without courage, your words will never be published. 


Wishing you much courage and success on the roller coaster ride of publishing! 


Don't go yet... Take a gander at the new book trailer for my latest children's book... 


Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters


Coming December 2015!!



Pre-order at www.donnamcdine.com

Wishing you a grand day!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Multi Award-winning Children's Author

Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!

Connect with

A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review


Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Historical Fiction 1st Place, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention Picture Books 6+, New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist

Monday, October 5, 2015

#KidLit Review - Magical Max and Magical Mickey


WRITTEN BY: Penelope Anne Cole
ILLUSRATED BY: Kevin Scott Collier
PUBLISHER: Magical Book Works
PUBLISHED: September 2015
PAGES: 32

The Magical series by award-winning children’s author, Penelope Anne Cole continues onward with another spectacular journey, this time Magical Max and Magical Mickey.

Siblings Matthew and Mea are intrigued and concerned at the sudden announcement for a family meeting. The two once magical siblings speculate as to what the meeting could be about. Stunned by the announcement of their mom’s pregnancy and impending birth of twins raise their concern that their soon to be new siblings will have magical powers as they once did. For you see, they worked hard with their Grandma Nonie to hide their once magical powers from their parents. What will happen with Matthew off at college, Mea busy with middle school and Grandma Nonie not as capable of all she once did? Will chaos ensue? Or will all the worry be for naught? Find out, as the newly expanded family takes a journey of discovery.

Penelope Anne Cole has crafted yet another “magical” story to churn the creative minds of our young muses.


The spectacular illustrations of Kevin Scott Collier create a wonderful aging process for all the characters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Multi Award-winning Children's Author

Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!

Connect with

A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Historical Fiction 1st Place, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention Picture Books 6+, New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist