Kidlit Spotlight: Ben's Adventures

Tri-Cities special needs families looking for a great kick off to the summer - this week presents a wonderful opportunity: On Friday, June 8, the Ben Smiles Memorial Foundation and Masterpiece Ministries will host the Abilities Celebration at Chapelstreet Church, 3435 Keslinger Road in Geneva, Ill. 

From 5 to 8 p.m., families will enjoy face painting, balloons, carnival games, bubble fun, a petting zoo, a train ride, workout demonstrations, pizza, vendors and more. (Register asap HERE!) The Abilities Celebration also will host readings from local authors, including Elizabeth Gerlach of St. Charles, Ill., author of this sweet new book...

Elizabeth, founder of the Ben Smiles Memorial Foundation, has had such an exciting spring! BEN'S ADVENTURES: A DAY AT THE BEACH released (via Storybook Genius) in May 2018, and she just returned from the Book Expo in NYC, where she signed books and spread the word about her new title.

Our family is so pleased to know the Gerlachs. Here's us connecting last summer at a lemonade stand for Ben Smiles, the charity that Elizabeth and her husband Rob founded in memory of their son Ben. Ben Smiles puts switch toys in the hands of children with special needs - love the mission! 

Ben, who attended Buddy Break at Chapelstreet Church alongside our Elsa, passed two years ago. Sweet Ben had many of the same motor and speech abilities as Elsa. Elizabeth's new picture book celebrates his life through unique adventures. So naturally, the star of BEN'S ADVENTURES is... Ben!

Right away, we meet Ben and learn that he has Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair. His portal to adventure is his imagination, and in this first book, Ben is dreaming of the beach...

In Ben's imagination, he is out of his chair and in the sand - walking with the crabs, building castles, feeling the waves. The text is so full of joy! Ben also experiences special moments with his dad (flying a kite) and his brother and sister (searching for shells)...

Where will Ben's imagination take him next? We'll have to wait to see! Families who have children (or friends) with abilities similar to Ben's will find the spirit of this book so endearing and the illustrations lovely and full of life.

You can read all about BEN'S ADVENTURES (paperback), and purchase a copy, HERE. A portion of the sales benefits the Ben Smiles Memorial Foundation. Elizabeth - best of luck on a summer filled with events sharing Ben's story - we'll see you Friday evening!

Kidlit Spotlight: Alma and How She Got Her Name

What is the story behind YOUR name?

Whether the tale is legendary, simple or straight-forward, it's a narrative that begs to be told. And no one is more invested in the full story than the holder of that name.

Over time, we give meaning to our name through our words and our actions. But a name can be something else. Something bigger. It can hold a deeper story with thick roots that give us a sense of place, no matter where we go.

This is precisely the case for Alma, the main character of the luminous new picture book ALMA AND HOW SHE GOT HER NAME by author-illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal  (April 2018, Candlewick Press).

This Kidlit Spotlight posts just in time for El día de los niños (Children's Day), commonly referred to as Día. The annual April 30th event celebrates children, families and reading, and emphasizes the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

These are precisely the themes explored in ALMA, so the link is particularly apropos: Alma's childhood curiosity sends her on a journey of ancestral connectivity that celebrates the power of storytelling.

Childhood Curiosity

In early childhood, our name is something we more-or-less accept. But as we age, we look at it more closely: Is it different? Too different? Pretty? Strong? Old-fashioned? Alma wrestles with something quite specific about her name: its length. She can't even squeeze it onto a piece of paper... 

Alma confronts her dad about it, lamenting that "it never fits." This sentiment prompts Alma's father to tell her the story of her name, to determine if perhaps it does "fit," after all. Martinez-Neal's play on this dual meaning is exact, powerful and poignant.

Ancestral Connectivity

Alma soon learns that each of her SIX names (Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela) holds a different story. One-by-one, her father introduces ancestors for whom she's named. Martinez-Neal's illustrations fit so beautifully with this odyssey. The ivory toned paper and muted pencil marks, reminiscent of an old journal or baby book, provide a dream-like bridge from present to past.

Through this portal, we come close to Alma's relatives and experience their individual interests and passions, which live on in young Alma: Sofia's love of books, Esperanza's sense of adventure, Jose's artistry, and so on. The revelations widen Alma's eyes to a broader picture of who she is and who she will be. 

Power of Storytelling

Alma's journey is facilitated by her father through story. He pulls books from the shelf, flips the pages of journals, shares old photographs - weaving the written word with an oral history to create a rich and defining tale. Martinez-Neal amplifies this storytelling by layering in illustrative symbols that link Alma to her ancestors (rosy noses, red threads, striped pants). 

I do my best to avoid spoilers, and will exercise restraint here, as well. But I'll conclude by saying that the end of Alma's journey in this book is really just the beginning...

I hope you're able to experience Alma for yourself, with someone you love. It certainly encouraged me to take a deeper look into my own name - especially my middle name (Ruth), which I share with three of my great grandmothers. (For more, here's my mom's recent guest post.) 

ALMA AND HOW SHE GOT HER NAME can be purchased in bookstores nationwide, as well as online through the bookseller of your choice. You also can enter to WIN an autographed copy through my Twitter page and blog!

*** Win ALMA AND HOW SHE GOT HER NAME ***

Simply...

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my pinned contest tweet by 5/4/18 

(Submit a blog comment below and get a BONUS ENTRY!)

GOOD LUCK!

PS: For an in-depth chat about ALMA AND HOW SHE GOT HER NAME, listen to Episode #433 of The Children's Book Podcast with Matthew C. Winner. 

PPS: What is the story behind MY name? Well, I was named after a Price Is Right Barker Beauty named Anitra Ford. (No relation to me, that's for sure!) But a fun story, nonetheless!

Kidlit Spotlight: The Gorilla Picked Me!

Who makes you feel special?

Is it your other half? Your best friend? Your brother or sis?

We all have that one person in our life whose puzzle piece locks right into ours. When we run out of ink, they fill in the blanks. When our strength wanes, they give us a piggy back ride across the finish line. Wherever we leave off, they pick up... and pick up the pieces while they're at it.

Being in the presence of a rock-star confidant can make you feel like you're looking into the world's most flattering mirror. These magical people pull away the debris of self-doubt and allow our light to shine. 

The Gorilla Picked Me! - the latest picture book from Michele McAvoy (illustrated by Valentina Carboni) - celebrates this special kind of love. Here's the adorable cover...

I reviewed Michele McAvoy’s first picture book, My Superhero Grandpa, on the blog last year. Michele and I have a special link – we’re both represented by Stephanie Hansen, senior literary agent and owner of Metamorphosis Literary Agency in Kansas City. 

As picture bookers, Michele and I play in the same #kidlit sandbox on Twitter. I just adore her – the way you adore a summer camp friend who quickly becomes your favorite pen pal.

Meet Michele!

You know what I also adore? The Gorilla Picked Me! My girls and I got our hands on an advance copy and we connected with it instantly - reading it three times in our first sitting.

The Gorilla Picked Me! is a rhyming picture book about a little girl named Olive, who feels average as can be. At school, she's the last one picked for games. On Valentine's Day, she feels downright invisible.

All Olive wants is to feel special... to stand out just once - not for being loud or flashy, but for being herself. Things seem to be falling into place when Olive attends the Spring Dance with the one person who values and champions her without judgement or hesitation: Her dad. 

But just as the party is getting started, Olive's dad has to slip away. Suddenly Olive feels all alone all over again... until... surprise! A gorilla shows up as the evening's entertainment and chooses Olive, over all the other kids, to be his dancing companion. 

By choosing her, the gorilla makes Olive's dream come true. But who exactly IS the dancer in that gorilla suit? 

Finding true friends and fitting in can be huge stressors for kids. Despite all the activity and commotion, school can be a lonely place - especially when you feel un-extraordinary. The Gorilla Picked Me! is a great book for a child struggling to find his or her place. It beautifully spotlights the power of being seen and celebrated.

The Gorilla Picked Me!, published by Native Ink Press, was released March 3.

Michele McAvoy (@michele_mcavoy) is giving away one signed copy of The Gorilla Picked Me!, plus great book swag (pictured), to the winner of my weeklong Twitter contest.

*** WIN The Gorilla Picked Me! ***

Simply…

1.     “Like” this post (click the heart below)

2.     Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3.     Retweet or Quote Tweet my pinned contest tweet by EOD 3/16/18

(Submit a blog comment below and get a BONUS ENTRY!)

GOOD LUCK!

Kidlit Spotlight: Hello, Door

I get pretty excited when I see a trailer for a new Wes Anderson movie, like the upcoming Isle of Dogs. The main characters can be traveling brothers (The Darjeeling Limited) or coming-of-age campers (Moonrise Kingdom). The setting can be a submarine (The Life Aquatic) or a grandiose inn (The Grand Budapest Hotel). No matter the story, I know the film is sure to deliver... Style. Quirk. Musicality. Action. Humor.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Hello, Door - the latest picture book by Alastair Heim, illustrated by Alisa Coburn - arrived on my stoop just a few days after its Jan. 2 little bee books release - looking a lot like a hybrid of The Royal Tenebaums and Fantastic Mr. Fox... 

So, I had a hunch that some Andersonian storytelling devices might be found within. At every twist and unexpected turn, Heim and Coburn (creators of another Schulte family fave Love You, Too) delivered what I hoped for, and then some:

Style

What could be more chic than a Georgian townhouse? Hello, Door is set in a two-story powder blue charmer. The order of the home's brick exterior and landscaping lets us know that the owners are well-to-do and meticulous. What a delightful stage for some disruptive and perfectly-styled mischief: Enter sly red fox in navy turtleneck, sporting up-to-no-good leather gloves.   

Quirk

Soon the fox sets to work creeping and sneaking. But things don't go very smoothly for this criminal. He climbs into the window, only to SPLASH into the kitchen sink. And when he comes upon a delicious sandwich, he obviously can't pass it by. As the fox makes his way through the home, it's clear that his journey will be whimsically circuitous.

Musicality

The repetition and cadence of Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown is a familiar comfort to kids and parents alike. Hello, Door is a very different book, but in a similar fashion, Heim pulls readers through his tale with rhythmic two-word combos: Hello, door. Hello, house. Hello, mat. Hello, mouse. As we go deeper and deeper into the home - discovering valuables and oddities along the way - each rhyming "hello" pair memorably rings and sings.

Action

The thieving fox in Hello, Door starts somewhat on task, but before long he finds himself waaaaaay off course. Why? The townhouse is full of distracting treasures. Each hallway and suite reveals a new place to stomp and romp. As he tosses feather pillows, dons bathrobes and takes a swing at golf, the reader is all-too-aware that someone is dilly dallying. I won't reveal more here, but the action only picks up from here. (And it's beary exciting...)

Humor

Hello, Door is chockfull of amusing moments. A humorous highlight for our crew? The rhyme of "plants" and "Mr. Fancy Pants." The line lands EVERY TIME with my daughters, who count "pants" among the short list of words that sound like potty talk but won't put them in time out... 

Further talk about this wonderful book would ruin the awesome ending. One way you can discover it for yourself? Win an *autographed* copy!

Alastair Heim (@alastairheim, featured in this 2017 Author Spotlight) is giving away a signed copy of Hello, Door to the winner of my weeklong Twitter contest. Here's how to enter:

*** WIN Hello, Door ***

Simply...

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my pinned contest tweet by EOD 2/2/18 

(Submit a blog comment below and get a BONUS ENTRY!)

GOOD LUCK!

Kidlit Spotlight: Red & Lulu

The Happy Holidays Series would be incomplete without a book review and giveaway! Like all the books that I feature, to me this book has that special something. But this one also happens to hit your heart at the same pitch as a holiday children's choir or the distant jingle of a bell.  

It says Christmas.

My affection for Red & Lulu, a new Christmas picture book written and illustrated by Matt Tavares (Candlewick Press), began long before I opened it. I spied the cover earlier this year on Twitter, and it triggered a completely emotional response. I knew this book would become a beloved title in our holiday book collection.

I mean, just feast your eyes on this beauty...

The cover of Red & Lulu is both iconic and novel. Through dreamy snowfall, we see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and meet two new characters - lovely red birds Red and Lulu. Without yet knowing their story, through the cover you can feel the birds' bond and glean the excitement of a shared adventure.

This book instantly worked its way into our family's everyday moments... 

We sing "O Christmas Tree, thy leaves are so unchanging" in the grocery store and all around the house.

When I asked my 4 year old what book she'd like to put on her Christmas list, she instantly said Red & Lulu. 

My fave: At our town's Christmas tree lighting, my 2 year old pointed to the freshly lit tree and screamed, "Lulu!!!"

If this praise isn't enough to encourage you to add Red & Lulu to your family's holiday collection, here's a list of five things that in my view make this book so special:

1. Companionship: "Red and Lulu were happy in their tree." From the start of the book, we read these words and see Red and Lulu moving through the seasons together. Red brings a twig to Lulu in the spring. They perch on a branch in the heat of summer. They seek each other out in the autumn wind. Red and Lulu are inseparable, and their joys are interwoven. Through gorgeous illustrations and gentle, poetic text, Tavares establishes the beauty and certainty of their partnership.

2. Sense of Home: Neighbors are drawn to the evergreen's picturesque side each year to sing carols. But first and foremost, the tree is Red & Lulu's home. Children will most certainly relate to the birds’ sense of safety and identity, rooted physically and emotionally in their tree - making the forthcoming change so effective...

3. Separation: We all fear separation from home and loved ones. So when Red and Lulu are distanced - as their tree is cut down and transported to NYC - we feel their panic and urgency. The juxtapositions created by Tavares in the spread below are powerful. With precision, he demonstrates the step-by-step process of removing and transporting such a large tree, and with a keen sense of scale, he shows Red and Lulu's powerlessness against the change.  

4. Postcard Moments: I've been to New York seven times (took me a minute to count that up...), and it’s undeniable - there is just something about that city. It's a constant sensory experience. The architecture, the density, the food, the soundtrack. Tavares' illustrations show the grandeur and the minutia, the brilliance and the everyday commotion - all softened with the dusting of snow. The palette is so expertly restrained, allowing rich reds to pop and the glow of the city lights to linger and illuminate out, up and all around. (It's no surprise that Tavares' Red & Lulu artwork also appears on greeting cards, found here.)

5. Iconic: After an exhaustive search for Lulu, Red happens upon a tree that looks an awful lot like their tree. Tavares captures this moment in an unforgettable image (below), which encapsulates what I imagine a New York City Christmas to be. The spread of wide-winged Red in front of this iconic scene is perfection. As a reader, you know you are getting close... to the tree's true purpose, to the end of Red's journey, to Lulu (we hope!), and to Christmas Day. It's a moment of arrival and joy. Isn't that what Christmas is all about? 

I soooooo want to share the next few pages of the book with you, but I can't. You don't want to first experience those moments here. You'll need to share them with someone you love.

The phrase "new classic" is often used to market books. While no one could possibly know if a book might reach a deep place in the hearts of many, when I hear that phrase attached to Red & Lulu, I don't doubt that it will come to pass. I do think it will be one of those books.

One lucky winner will receive an *autographed copy* of this beauty. (Thanks for sharing one with the blog, Matt!) Here's how to enter to win - and be sure to follow Matt on Twitter @tavaresbooks.

Happy Holidays, and good luck! 

*** WIN Red & Lulu ***

Simply...

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my pinned contest tweet by 12/8/17 

(Submit a blog comment below and get a BONUS ENTRY!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Kidlit Spotlight: Big Sister, Little Monster

Sisters are among the world's greatest gifts. Admittedly, I'm partial. As the middle of three sisters, who now has three little girls of her own, sisters are all that I know. And I count myself lucky.

Together, sisters learn everything there is to know about... well... everything. In this sacred relationship, you share millions of giggles and hugs, but are also completely safe to disagree and (when your parents aren't watching) fight and hit and scream.

Because you have all of the same memories, your baby books could be interchanged without notice. Your lives are completely intertwined.

I'm the second Rowe sister, but I don't lament my middle-child status. Not in the slightest. From Haley, my older sister, I was on the receiving end of a lot of doting...

... important life lessons...

... and fashion tutorials...

Then, when my little sister Betsy came along (note that I am ALSO a baby here), it was my turn to share the love...  

... and share I did...

... all the way to the alter...

My three girls have their own dynamic. In some ways, I expected their patterns and behaviors to mimic those of me and my sisters, but their rhythms are unique. The common thread, though, is the bond. The unshakable, proud, fierce only-I-can-mess-with-my-sister bond.

It is, therefore, no surprise that Big Sister, Little Monster by Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum (illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham) hit such a chord with me and my girls.

In this new title, we meet big-sister Lucy and tag-along Mia. Lucy is a certified big girl, and Mia is a certified monster. Where Lucy is measured and proper, Mia is wild and untamed.

Finally, Lucy has enough of Mia's antics. "You little monster... GO AWAY!!!" Lucy screams.

Mia-free peace is blissful at first, but not for long. Things get quiet. TOO quiet.

Lucy goes looking for Mia and uncovers a secret door, which leads to Mia and her Monsters - slimy, grimy creatures who wish to keep Mia forever.

When they refuse to let Mia go, Lucy lets HER monster out.

In Big Sister, Little Monster - and in the stunning, lyrical picture book Trains Don't Sleep - Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum masterfully drives story forward. Every spread reveals something new and important for fully understanding her worlds. On top of this superb pacing, Big Sister, Little Monster bursts with color, energy and heart from beginning to end. 

Thank you, Andria, for bringing us Lucy and Mia. As this adorable new picture book pair proves, whether little monsters or full-grown women, sisters will always be sisters. 

Big Sister, Little Monster can be purchased in bookstores nationwide, as well as online through the bookseller of your choice. You also can enter to WIN an autographed copy from Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum through my Twitter page and blog!

*** WIN Big Sister, Little Monster ***

Simply...

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my pinned contest tweet by 11/17/17 

(Submit a blog comment below and get a BONUS ENTRY!)

GOOD LUCK!

5 Picture Books to Fall For - A Guest Post by Savannah Hendricks

Fall is in full swing. The leaves are doing their beautiful downward dance. Cider is on the stove. Football is in conference play, and baseball is drawing to a spectacular close. Chances are good you've picked apples or pumpkins - or both. What's not to love about this spice-infused kaleidoscopic season?

The Schulte House is clearly in the spirit. Check out our apple pie, decorated with hand-carved emblems of autumn. No surface is safe from our illustrative inclinations.

Picture books are a big part of each weather and holiday shift, too. At home and at school, seasonal titles reinforce science and cultural concepts with artistry and humor, helping my children better understand their world - month by month, year by year.

Literary journeys can even further enhance the way we experience the seasons, particularly when titles tap into the senses and deliver a special aesthetic. Twitter pal and children's book author Savannah Hendricks shares my passion for picture books and is visiting the blog this month to suggest five great picture books for fall. 

Meet Savannah!

So divert your eyes from the Christmas decorations in your local grocery and craft stores, and take a few moments to enjoy Savannah's roundup of titles that honor this blink-and-you'll-miss-it season. Quotes below all attributed to Savannah (SH).

5 Picture Books to Fall For - A Guest Post by Savannah Hendricks

Leaves by David Ezra Stein

I love this story and its illustrations - simple yet beautiful. I've read it in paperback form, but it comes as a board-book and also hardcover. It often becomes a re-read in one sitting with a child. - SH

---

Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead

This story tugs at your heart, especially when everyone else is too busy to hear Bear's story. The illustrations provide the "hurry up feeling," drawing readers in. - SH

---

In November by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Jill Kastner

I love the lyrical words of this story. Illustrations come alive as families gather and share in the spirit of November. It's like Owl Moon for the fall. - SH

---

Fall is for Friends by Suzy Spafford

This one is hard to find anywhere; hopefully your local library or bookstore has a copy. This friendship story focuses on encouragement with a twist, as the girls try to encourage the fall leaves to drop from the branches. - SH

---

The Fall Festival (Little Critter Series) by Mercer Mayer

The Little Critter series was my favorite growing up. The illustrations are almost like a seek and find. I love the humor in each story. Technically this is a My First I Can Read book, but works as a picture book also. - SH

---

Savannah Hendricks is the author of the picture book NONNIE AND I, set in Botswana. She has more than 20 magazine publication credits to her name. Savannah writes for all ages and reads stories aloud to her dog for approval. You can find out more at her blog The Seashells of Life. 

Thanks so much Savannah! You can follow Savannah on Instagram at @authorsavannahhendricks and Twitter at @AuthorSavannah.

Kidlit Spotlight: My Superhero Grandpa

Happy Grandparents Day! 

The Schulte family sends big hugs to great-grandpa Rowe in Illinois, and great-grandpa and grandma Wessling in Nebraska, and blows kisses to the Schulte, Traughber and Rowe great-grandparents up in heaven. 

We LOVE you!

Our crew also shares X's and O's with our daughters' amazing grandparents: Krapaw and Zannie Rowe (my parents)...

... and Grampy and Grammy Schulte (Dan's folks). 

The relationship between grandchild and grandparent is a precious thing, isn't it? Every time the handsome couples pictured above walk through our front door, adorableness ensues: 

Squeals, jumps and hugs from our younger two.

Lovey gazes, warm smiles and tender cuddles from our eldest.

As parents, you're blessed to be sandwiched by this special love. You get to watch as your parents shower your kids with adoration, then melt as it flows back with equal intensity. It is truly a gift from above.

But, like all holidays, this one can be hard. Some of our friends (now parents themselves) are celebrating Grandparents Day a bit differently than we are this year. They're opening photo albums and telling stories about their parents, who passed much too soon, and praying that their young children will remember and feel bonded to them.

Moms and dads seeking a way to talk to their kids about a grandparent who has passed could find great comfort in My Superhero Grandpa by Michele McAvoy. 

My Superhero Grandpa came on my radar earlier this year when I became part of the Metamorphosis Literary Agency team. Like me, New Jersey picture book author Michele McAvoy is represented by agent extraordinaire Stephanie Hansen. 

My Superhero Grandpa, recipient of a 2016 Moonbeam Award, is a sweet picture book that likens a grandparent in heaven to a superhero. It's an apt comparison: Who better to watch over and guide a child then a grandparent with the perfect vantage point on day-to-day life?

The warm, vibrantly illustrated book is up-beat, comforting and tender, and the simple prose gives straightforward, positive descriptions of a heavenly grandparent's unique role. It would be a great book to read with a child who has recently lost a beloved grandparent, or with a child whose grandparent passed before his or her birth. 

Here's the book's trailer:

This September 2017: Proceeds from all Amazon sales of My Superhero Grandpa this month go to Tuesday's Children, an NYC-based charity that cares for communities impacted by terrorism or traumatic loss.

The cause is close to Michele's heart. She wrote My Superhero Grandpa from a place of great tragedy, but through her experience she also found great hope. As an attorney working in Manhattan on 9/11, Michele experienced the devastation of the historic terrorist attack first hand, only to lose her dad just three day's later in an incident unrelated to the fall of the Twin Towers. She recently wrote about her journey in a beautiful piece for The Children's Writers Guild titled, Writing for Children from Tragedy. It's a very timely, emotional and moving read.

Remembering can be hard. Remembering can be beautiful. But one thing is ALWAYS beautiful: The special place reserved for grandparents in our hearts. Now and always. 

Thank you, Michele, for sharing your work and story, and best of luck in your fundraiser! If you'd like to purchase My Superhero Grandpa and support Tuesday's Children, visit the Amazon link HERE. And be sure to follow Michele on Twitter at @michele_mcavoy!

You also can *WIN* a copy of the book:

Visit me on Twitter and Instagram,

View contest rules,

And ENTER!

Kidlit Spotlight: Pocket Full of Colors

I vividly remember getting my very first 64-count box of crayons (complete with its own built-in sharpener). Just thinking about it takes me back: All those fresh points. The sweet waxy smell. The pristine wrapping on each stick. And the color. 

Row after row of brilliant   C   O   L   O   R.

Each crayon in the box had its own name and distinct personality. Over time, the colors became either friends (bashful Periwinkle, dramatic Magenta, moody Midnight Blue) or acquaintances (gentle Maize, cool Cornflower, brash Burnt Sienna).

Like Bob Ross and his Titanium White, I took ownership of every hue the second I used it. In solitary moments with my colors, I built imaginary worlds and also quietly reflected on the adult world I was learning more about every day.

Perhaps this why I had such an emotional reaction to the new non-fiction picture book Pocket Full of Colors: The Magical World of Mary Blair, Disney Artist Extraordinaire by Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville, illustrated by Brigette Barrager (Atheneum Books for Young Readers).

So powerfully written and just breathtakingly beautiful:

Pocket Full of Colors - which publishes Aug. 29, 2017, and is available now via preorder - is the story of Mary Blair, a Disney illustrator who fearlessly presented her bold artistic vision amidst the conventions of 1940s animation studio culture. Blair's daring aesthetic can be experienced in Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan. She also was the visionary behind the iconic Disney amusement ride It's a Small World.

I was so excited to share Pocket Full of Colors with my girls! Blair is a fantastic role model - a woman who never compromised her vision, despite opposition. I also thought my daughters would connect with the art theme. We operate in full living color at our house. The dining room table is constantly covered in crayons and markers (and feet and bottoms).

And our driveway is always a haze of chalky creations. 

Elsa, our eldest, who has Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome, doesn't like to hold things, but cool adaptive cuffs like this one (below) lengthen the amount of time she can hold crayons and markers. (Click here to see a video Elsa using a dot marker with a cuff.) 

Now that you know a little about our affinity for color, here are 5 reasons why this book was such a great match for our crew:

1. Mary Blair - Protagonist Extraordinaire

When you first meet Mary Blair in Pocket Full of Colors, she is a little girl who's just learned that she must leave her childhood home and head West with her parents. Rather than sulk (which would be understandable), Blair exhibits her trademark bravery and positivity. She sets out on her new adventure with a gleam in her eye and a color in her pocket (lemon). Right away, we learn that our main character doesn't shirk away when the going gets tough. She embraces opportunities to learn and grow.

2. The Collector Concept

As Mary Blair travels through life, she picks up and collects colors. Bravo to Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville - what a splendid storytelling device. It just sings. The spread of Blair's journey West so reminded me of my crayon explorations as a child. I adored the luscious groupings of like-minded colors, set in different regions of the country. 

3. Pure Color Fun

A teal pumpkin coach for Cinderella. An aquamarine caterpillar advisor for Alice. Mary Blair was famous for integrating "eye-popping" shades - collected in her travels - into her concept art. We learn in Pocket Full of Colors that traditional Disney animators shied away from Blair's bold and unexpected color combinations. Lucky for us, illustrator Brigette Barrager channeled Blair's adventurous spirit, in full view in this rainbow-ribboned salmon sky.

4. Full Throttle Creativity

At several points in the book, we get to see Blair in her artistic element - putting pencil and paintbrush to paper. She is always wearing a smart pair of glasses and a satisfied grin. Her posture is forward and her eyes are lit with excitement. The spread below always silences my girls (a rarity!). You can feel the heat and smell the flowers, as colors from Blair's South American trip dance and sway across the page. 

5. No Small Feat

It's always fascinating to hear how Disney makes its magic. Traveling with Blair through her colorful life story, we get to peek behind this curtain. And as it turns out, magic is created by people - talented, persistent and sometimes misunderstood people, like Blair. Throughout the book, Blair faces many roadblocks, but she never let nay-sayers dim her light. As a result of this persistence, her impact is felt throughout Disney and popular culture today. 

A final parting thought: My girls LOVED the picture of Mary Blair in the Authors' Note section at the end of the story. They were very struck that Blair was a real woman. I look forward to revisiting Pocket Full of Colors with them in the days, months and years to come, as they begin identifying their own passions and charting their futures. 

Pocket Full of Colors publishes on Aug. 29, but you can pre-order your book today HERE. If you'd like to learn more about the talented authors and illustrator behind this book, check out their websites:

• Amy Guglielmo, Author: www.amyguglielmo.com
• Jacqueline Tourville, Author: www.jacquelinetourville.com
• Brigette Barrager, Illustrator: www.brigetteb.com 

Kidlit Spotlight: If I Weren't With You

At the Kansas City Writing Workshop last month, I had the pleasure of meeting author Rosie J. Pova - a fellow kidlit writer with a picture book on the cusp of release. It was so energizing to connect that weekend with someone already so far down the publishing path.

Meet Rosie J. Pova!

This Kidlit Spotlight features Pova's If I Weren't With You (illustrated by Philip Martineau), released by Clear Fork Publishing on APRIL 4, 2017. (Hot off the presses, folks!) Here's my take on this new title: 

If your family is anything like mine, you have WORN OUT your copies of... 

And....

Ready for a picture book reboot?

Enter If I Weren't With You - a title reminiscent of these new-ish classics, but with a deeper focus: Quelling our children's biggest worries and most persistent fears.

The story opens with a little bear named Willy playing in the woods, while his mom stands nearby. As the two bears walk among butterflies, and through hills and trees, Willy begins asking his mom some very serious questions:

What if I got lost in the woods?

What if a hunter took me? 

Would you give up and forget me?

Willy's questions all have the same angle. What he seeks - what every child seeks - is certitude of his mother's devotion and protection. To Willy, safety and security can be understood, so long as he knows that his mom would do anything for him... and stop at nothing to save him.

Through vivid nature-driven examples and illustrations, Mama Bear assures Willy: Her love for him is constant and endless. This message hits extra close to home this Easter holiday, as we remember a Father's love that knows no bounds.

As a parent, I gotta tell ya...

Merely thinking of my kids being taken away from me is enough to give me a panic attack. Our children aren't immune to this. They live in the same world that we do. They see the nightly news and hear stories of loss and death.

Kids know - if only abstractly, or through the lens of cartoon characters - that there are bad forces out there, just out of view. Things that have the power to separate them from what they know and love. From us.

To provide stability in the face of Willy's uncertainty, Mama Bear offers unwavering assurances that she will never give up on her son and never forget him.

Once Willy gets his pressing questions answered, he is grounded by simply hearing the words "I love you" from Mama Bear. With that, mom and cub resume the physical and emotional closeness that gives both of them such fulfillment. 

It's a pitch-perfect ending to a book that both confronts and comforts - and all on a child's level.

Congratulations on this fantastic book, Rosie! 

Wishing you lots of luck in Texas (and beyond!) as you raise awareness of If I Weren't With You, now available on Amazon. ($16.99 hardcover)

***GIVEAWAY*** 

For a chance to WIN a copy of If I Weren't With You:

Follow me on Twitter (@anitraschulte).

Retweet my contest tweet between 4/14 and 9AM CST 4/20.

Good luck!