Review: What's New at the Zoo? An Animal Adding Adventrue

I recently joined the team at BookPleasures.com as a reviewer. After my reviews are posted on BookPleasures.com, they will be posted on Amazon, Goodreads, EzinesArticles.com, AssociatedContent.com, and my sites.


A Review by Karen Cioffi, reviewer for BookPleasures.com
5 STARS

Title: What’s New t the Zoo? An Animal Adding Adventure
Author: Suzanne Slade
Illustrator; Joan Waites
Reading Level: 4-8
Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-934359-93-8 (hardcover)
ISBN: 978-1-607180-38-8 (pbk.)

What’s New at the Zoo? takes the reader on an animal adding adventure. This learning zoo adventure begins: “Two hungry pandas eat a bamboo lunch. One cub joins the meal. How many crunch and munch? 2 + 1 = ?” Through delightful rhyming text and numerals Ms. Slade creates a wonderfully engaging learning experience for children. Each page offers a new addition problem.

Within the rhyming text Ms. Slade cleverly weaves information about animals and the names of the baby animals pictured. Did you know that a baby mammoth boa is called a neonate? But that’s not all: the illustrations are striking - they are vivid, realistic and elaborate. Children will love reading this entertaining and educational picture book, in fact, they may not even realize they’re learning in the process.

An added feature to this book is the “For Creative Minds” and “Animal Matching Activity” educational section in the back. It offers additional math problems and solutions as well as information on the animals mentioned in the book. It also explains the differences in the animal classes: mammals, birds and reptiles, and asks the reader to put each of the animals shown within the book into their correct class.

I read this book to my three-year-old grand son. He said his favorite part was the picture with the peacocks. I then had my eight-year-old great nephew read it to me while answering the addition questions. They both enjoyed this book as will all children within the intended age group and even those a little younger. I highly recommend What’s New at the Zoo?

About the author: Suzanne Slade is the author of over 60 books for children. Her works include picture books, and biographies, as well as many non-fiction titles about animals, sports, insects, planets, and various science topics. During an earlier engineering career, she worked on Delta rockets and designed automotive braking systems. Ms. Slade lives near Chicago with her husband, two children, and their tiny dog, Corduroy.

About the illustrator: Joan Waites spent 15 years as a neo-natal intensive care nurse prior to studying illustration and launching her freelance career. In addition to What’s New at the Zoo? Joan has illustrated nearly 40 books for the educational and trade marketplace. She is also an adjunct member of The Corcoran Museum School of Arts and Design in Washington, DC, where she teaches various children’s classes for the college’s Aspiring Artists programs.

We're Back with Linda Asato

It's great to have Linda back with us. On Wednesday we learned about her wonderful children's book, Spider in Our Mailbox. Today, we'll find out a few things about Linda.

Take it away, Linda:

I grew up in the Canadian woods alongside a rambling river and next to my dad's sawmill and planer mill. Two dogs were my constant companions as I hiked the woods nearby. Wow, this is so picturesque! I moved to live in the USA in 1985 and have been here ever since. In 2003, I began writing and editing as a way to earn my living. I also teach piano and I love working with the children I teach.

In regard to my writing experiences, I began writing poetry when I was 9 years old. Then a few years later I wrote a chapter book in a coiled notebook I carried with me to and from school. It was about a young boy who ran away from home to the woods where he taken care of by a young girl who also had run away to avoid being send to an orphanage. She teaches him how to survive in the woods but some unexpected encounters with a bear brings on a turn of events for these young folks. Maybe someday I will rewrite the story!

More recently I have done a lot of ghost writing for others in various nonfiction genres. As well I have done 3 years of editing for other published authors. I enjoy both activities.

Some of my short stories have won first, second or third place in contests on Writing.com. It is the same with several of my poetry. You can see my work at http://www.loti.writing.com.

Some of the most rewarding experiences I have had are when I research topics I know very little about. I love learning and so researching is always a fun experience for me.

Now for the Q&A?

What part of the country do you currently live?

I live in Florida where it is supposed to rain during this season but is having a hard time doing so!

What is your writing day like?

I do so many other things besides writing that my time is shared. Ideally I would like to write early in the morning every day from 6:00 to 10:00 but this is not happening. Instead I write whenever I get the chance to. At least until I get my other businesses set up so I can make money while I write. You know. I am a work at home kind of person with piano students in the late afternoon and evening to supplement my income.

Did you find it easy to write Spider in Our Mailbox? And, were there many revisions

Yes it was easy as the thoughts just swam into my head with a fury! I did only 3 revisions. I have written larger books though of more than 300 pages and then I may do up to 15 revisions before I am ready.

How many submissions did you send before being accepted for publication?

I went to my friend Vivian who owns 4RV Publishing and she wanted to publish my book. Before that I had submitted it to one other publisher who turned it down.

How did you find the illustrator?

Vivian suggested an illustrator for me and I looked at his illustrations for other books and I liked his style.

Don't forget you can learn more about Linda Asato at:
http://lindaswritingweb.yolasite.com

Thanks for answering these questions for us. It's always great to learn the hows and whys.

Well, that's it for this month's tour. Thank you, Linda, for visiting with us.

And, if there are any authors out there who would like to learn more about VBT - Writers on the Move, just email me at: karenrcfv@yahoo.com and please put "VBT -KandR" in the subject box.

See you in blog world,
Karen

Two Days with author, Linda Asato

Author of Spider in Our Mailbox, Linda Asato is a member of VBT - Writers on the Move and it's my pleasure to host her today and again on Friday, the 3rd. Linda joined our merry band for the June tour so it's great learning all about her and her work.

We'll learn more about Linda on Friday. Today, let's find out about Spider in Out Mailbox. I love the cover!

Title: Spider in Our Mailbox
Author: Linda Asato
Illustrator: Ryan Shaw
Publisher: 4RV Publishing
Released: May 2009
ISBN 13: 978-0-9818685-5-4

Here is a review from Vivian Zabel of 4RV Publishing:

Children love stories about family, animals, and other creatures, especially when they can learn things at the same time. Linda Asato tells the tale of a little girl who checks the mail every day – allowing children to learn the days of the week, and sees a spider in the mailbox (number one). The second day, she sees two crows (number two). Each day the types and number of creatures changes, but the spider remains. Each day, the girl runs to tell her busy mother what she saw.

Lessons to learn are counting to seven and the days of the week, learned in a fun way.

Ryan Shaw brings Asato’s delightful story to life with his bright illustrations.

To learn more about Linda go to:
Linda's site: http://lindaswritingweb.yolasite.com
Publisher: http://4rvpublishingllc.com

Don't forget to stop back on Friday, the 3rd, to learn about Linda Asato, the author.

See you in blog world,
Karen

My Guest for July 1st will be Linda Asato

It's going to be great to learn about children's author Linda Asato and her new book, Spider in Our Mailbox. And, I have the pleasure of hosting her. Please be sure to stop by and leave a comment.

Linda will be with us on the 1st and the 3rd.

VBT - Writers on the Move now has two set days each month for our tours. While we always had a uniform post on the 1st, now we'll have a uniform post on the 3rd also.

Also, don't forget our Mystery Site Give-Away! If you leave a comment on the Mystery Site during the tours you may be the LUCKY WINNER!

If you're a writer, take that leap and join VBT - Writers on the Move. Become a part of the ongoing cross promotion we are known for.

See you in blog world,
Karen

VBT - Writers on the Move July Tour

Wow, the months seem to be flying by. In a few days is VBT - Writers on the Move's July tour. With this tour there is a new feature: We will be hosting our guest on the 1st (as usual) and on the 3rd (this is our new uniform second posting day).

With July's tour we're also spicing it up a bit: now our members will occasionally offer articles in place of biographies. This will be a welcome change and readers will benefit from the useful and informative articles.

And, don't forget we have a monthly Mystery Site Give-Away! Just leave a comment on the hosts' sites during the tour and you may be the lucky winner!

AND, July 10th is our Viewpoint/Hot Topic segment and Crystalee Calderwood will be hosting that segment at her site (check below for her link).

Now for the VBT - Writers on the Move July Tour Schedule:

Harry Gilleland is hosting Heather Paye
Karen Cioffi is hosting Linda Asato
Kathy Stemke is hosting Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Lea Schizas is hosting Harry Gilleland
Nancy Famolari is hosting Helena Harper
Vivian Zabel is hosting Crystalee Calderwood
Margaret Fieland is hosting Katie Hines
Crystalee Calderwood is hosting Mayra Calvani
Katie Hines is hosting Dorothy Massey
Dorothy Massey is hosting Galye Trent
Liana Metal is hosting Anita Yasuda
Carolyn Howard-Johnson is hosting Karen Cioffi
Virginia Grenier is hosting Kathy Stemke
Helena Harper is hosting Marvin Wilson
Gayle Trent is hosting Liana Metal
Mayra Calvani is hosting Lea Schizas
Marvin Wilson is hosting Nancy Famolari
Anita Yasuda is hosting Vivian Zabel
Linda Asato is hosting Margaret Fieland
Heather Paye is hosting Virginia S. Grenier

Please be sure to join in for our July Virtual Tours.

Also, if you're an author and would like to learn more about our group, just email me at: karenrcfv@yahoo.com, and please put VBT-KR in the subject box.

See you all in blog world,
Karen

The Private Label Rights Strategy

Private Label Rights (PLR), for those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, is a type of content or product that, once purchased, allows you to reuse it as your own. Although every publisher gives different rights with their content, you are usually able to rewrite it, add your name, divide it up and sometimes even publish it as is. There are also other PLR products that require you to reuse it intact with the original author’s name. So, check the rights when purchasing. The PLR products that allow you to use the article as your own are very similar to ghostwriting in that someone else writes the content, and you may publish it under your own name.

If you're going to promote yourself online or try to earn money online you have to be able to manage your time. PLR products free up time – it’s plain and simple. You don't have to spend that time writing info on new products. You don't have to write that content for your website, and you don't have to write all of those articles for article directories. Freeing up time is a big deal - that's time you can be spending doing other things.

If you haven’t been using PLR products, you might want to give them a try. There are a number of uses for this type of product: You can give it away as a bonus or gift; use it to build your subscriber list; use it as content for your website or blog; use it to create an ebook to offer as a freebie or sell on your site; use it in your newsletters; you can even rewrite it and really make it your own, then send it to article directories. Be creative and get the most uses you can out of them.

In addition to the above uses, PLR content is also a great tool if you’re an affiliate marketer. It is impossible to know everything about everything, but with PRL articles you don’t have to. If you need a health article, a business article, an insurance article, whatever the topic, just find reputable sites that offer these types of articles and you’re off and running. PLR products can be a great tool.

While there are a number of advantages to using PLR, you need to find a provider that offers quality products. Along with this be sure to proofread the content before using or publishing it as your own. Some providers that offer PLR content may be foreigners, not familiar with the English language. Others may just be out to make a quick buck. And, even those who write for a living may not put the same effort or time into a PLR article that they would for one being published under their own name. Printing or publishing a low grade article or content may do more damage to your promotional efforts than good. So, be sure to proofread the PLRs you purchase. The same holds true for PLR videos, audios and so on…check them before using them.

PLR products are an investment just like your domain name and web hosting.
We invest in these tools to create visibility which in turn can very well lead to a visitor clicking that BUY button or Affiliate Product button.

See you in blog world,
Karen

Robin Falls Kids Story Time - Blog Talk Radio

Teaching, informing, and entertaining children is a great way to spend time. April Robins of Red River Writers – Works of Writers & Artists Worldwide is doing just that. I belong to this group and wanted to let everyone know that I’m participating in this group’s Robin Falls Kids Story Time - Blog Talk Radio.

The event will begin Wednesday, June 24th and end Wednesday, August 5th.

36 Children's and Young Adult Authors will read from their work and tell how their stories came to life. A Library Time over the radio.

There are 20+ children’s books that will be given away as gifts to commenters, so please stop by the event at Facebook. Just click on the event button on the bottom of your Facebook screen and go to: Robin Falls Kids Story Time

To leave a comment on my spot thread for the event go to:

http://www.facebook.com/n/?photo.php&pid=30223271&id=1154012017&op=1&subj=108027166097&view=all&aid=-1&oid=108027166097&comments&mid=a7147eG44c8d371G3c4849G9

My interview spot is scheduled for Wednesday, July 8th. I’m not sure of the time yet, but will keep you informed.

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To attend and participate in the shows dial the Call-in Number: (646) 649-1005
(OR)
just listen live or archived at
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/RobinFalls

Stop by the Facebook event board and call in or listen live on July 8th. I'd love to hear from you.

Karen