Friday, August 21, 2015

Author Visit at


I'm doing the Snoopy Dance....


I'm heading back for an author appearance tomorrow, August 22nd at 2pm to Libraries Without Borders for their IdeasBox program located at Hayden Lord Park ~ 1667 Andrews Avenue, South Bronx, NY.

I'm looking forward to engaging with the children and sharing my children's books. It's sure to be an energizing day. Terrific way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Learn more about the IdeasBox program.

If you are in the area please feel free to stop by! The mosaic work throughout the park is spectacular!

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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

Thursday, August 13, 2015

#Kidlit Book Review ~ The Children at the Playground by Tracey M. Cox

Author: Tracey M. Cox
Illustrator: Dolores Costello
Publisher: Xist Publishing
Published: June 2015
Pages: 14

Come explore the wonderful world of the playground and all the fun and adventure it holds. As the story unfolds the repetitive nature of each task will have you singing along without even realizing. The expert-use of language that is age appropriate makes Tracey M. Cox’s latest children’s book a true treasure.

Dolores Costello’s alluring illustrations brings the story to life in such a way of wanting to head out to the playground immediately.

A classic in the making! The Children at the Playground is sure to be a cherished book for home and libraries across the globe!


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

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

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Children's Book Review: Magical Mea Goes to School by Penelope Anne Cole



Author: Penelope Anne Cole
Illustrator: Kevin Scott Collier
Publisher: Magical Book Works
Published: June 2015
Pages: 30

Who wouldn’t want magical powers to make their day a bit easier and exciting? I know I would! Come explore the magical world of second grader, Mea as she learns the responsibility of her powers. Intertwined with real life examples of everyday life of helping others and spending time with friends, Mea needs to come to terms of keeping her special talent secret. Will she reveal her magical talent to her friends or will she take the mature road and realize some things are better off kept to one’s self?

Find out in award-winning children’s author, Penelope Anne Cole’s latest book in the “magical” series as each character grows not only in age, but in maturity with each book. Ms. Cole has done a splendid job in engaging the reader with a fun and interesting story.

The illustrations created by Kevin Scott Collier leap from the page as the story comes to life through his creative talents.

Well done all around! Bravo!

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

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

Friday, August 7, 2015

Children's Book Review: Papa's Sun by Kevin McNamee


Title: Papa’s Suns
Author: Kevin McNamee
Illustrator: Samantha Bell
Published: June 2015
Pages: 18

Unexpected changes are part of life and when we least expect it those changes can sneak up on us. How we handle those changes whether for the good or bad can set an example for those around us.

Young Jacob has a special bond with his Papa through the love of drawing. What happens when Papa suffers a stroke, which affects his speech and ability to move his body correctly? Will Papa retreat further into a world without drawing with not having the capability to create or does the love between the Jacob and Papa bloom into new ways of drawing?

Journey along with Jacob to see if he learns how to adapt to his “new” Papa and with different ways of communicating.

Kevin McNamee has created a splendid story of everlasting love through a too often experienced health issue of stroke. Genius!

Samantha Bell’s soft imagery lends to the heartwarming story of the special love between grandson and grandfather. Splendid!


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

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, August 5, 2015

#IWSG ~ Insecure Writer's Support Group

I can hardly believe it's August 5th and it's our 26th wedding anniversary! The roller-coaster of life has certainly kept things interesting all these years and I wouldn't want to be on this ride with anyone else but my hubby, Tom. Love you sweetie! 


Now onto #IWSG! 

The awesome co-hosts for the the August 5 posting of the IWSG will be Nancy Gideon, Bob R Milne, Doreen McGettigan, Chrys Fey, Bish Denham, and Pat Garcia! 


My writing has taken the backseat for quite some time now, but thankfully my fifth children's book is due to be released December 2015 and I'm working on the marketing plan as we speak. But as for writing anything new, it's been nothing, nada, zip! I'm not going to beat myself up about it, but rather take care of myself both physically and mentally to help re-spark my writing bug! 

I hope you are all doing well and inspiration continues to flourish through you! 

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

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

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Children's Book Review - The Veterans' Clubhouse by Kristen Zajac


Author: Kristen Zajac
Illustrator: Jennifer Thomas Houdeshell
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
Published: June 2015
Pages: 26

Veterans are often the forgotten people of the war on US soil of homelessness. Through the tightknit family of siblings, Patrick and Hailey, their parents and grandfather, G-man, they unexpectedly meet a homeless Vietnam Veteran, Charlie after church services. Inspired by their love of community and helping others, Patrick and Hailey devise a plan to help veterans throughout their community with a fundraiser, featuring the musical talents of Patrick, his father and G-man along with the artistic drawings of Hailey. What results, will astound even the biggest skeptic.

With love and determination a heartwarming story unfolds wonderfully through the skilled story-telling talents of author, Kristen Zajac. Bringing forth the power of prayer and coming together as one for the better good the reader will feel empowered to organize an event to enrich their community.

Illustrator, Jennifer Thomas Houdeshell outstanding talents of creating illustrations that are true to life, makes the reader feel like they can leap right into the scene.


Through the combination of the talents of both author and illustrator they have created and brought to life a one of a kind children’s book to inspire community service. Well done!

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

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