We have the winner of the Too Many Visitors for One Little House Name the Dog Contest. Five semi-finalists names were selected and then we had an ONLINE vote to choose the winning name.

Congratulations to Mary Jane Coward of Dillon South Carolina for submitting the winning name. Mary Jane’s entry , WAGS, was voted the Number #1 FAVORITE by fans, friends and on-line voters.

Mary Jane is a kindergarten teacher in rural South Carolina. Says Mary Jane: “I know I’ll enjoy reading (listening to) the book with my kinderkids!! ….Since our budget is zero…I enter as many contests as I can find for books to add to my classroom.”   Ms. Mary Jane is happy to be receiving her prize  copy of the book Too Many Visitors and a $25 Amazon gift book certificate.

How  would our winner, Mary Jane Coward choose to celebrate WAGS’s  naming party?  ”WAGS would love to visit a kindergarten class, of course!! All of the students would bring their dogs as guests!” says Mary Jane.

Please visit us on our  facebook  page http://budurl.com/booksicalsfans and tell us how YOU would celebrate Wag’s naming party or leave your comments below.

WAGS, his family and friends come to life on the Booksicals stage THIS THURDAY JULY 22 at 1:30 pm at  GAP KIDS at the GROVE LA.  Come and see the show! Get a coupon for a free book (with a Gap purchase ) at http://budurl.com/freebookcoupon or visit the concierge at Grove LA or pick up a coupon at GAP KIDS during July 19-22.

To read the story of  how scraggly dog finally found his NAME go to http://www.booksicals.com/truly-me-scraggly-dog-gets-a-name

Congratulations again to Mary Jane and her kindergarten class!

WAGS !

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WE HAVE WINNING NAME FOR SCRAGGLY DOG!

John Burningham’s Where’s Julius is a great picture book with beautiful illustrations about the power of imagination.

One day Julius is riding camels at the top of the tomb of Neffatuteum ( a pyramid in Egypt). Another he is cooling rhinocerous with muddy water in the Lombo Bombo River in Central Africa. Next he is crossing the frozen wastes of Novosti Krosky in Russia. Julius is way too busy to make it to most family meals when he is off on an exotic journey….and his parents don’t seem to mind. They’re cool with Julius’s imaginative quest for adventure!

A great read for kids of all ages and GREAT book for boys.

Where’s Julius by John Burningham, Crown Pulbishers, NY. 1986
’s

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Where’s Julius? – Classic Children’s Book Pic of the WEEK

Since one of my favorite pass times is sitting in the kids section of the library reading picture books, I thought I would start sharing some of my favorites with you.

This months pic of the month is called: SNIP SNAP WHAT’S THAT? a Greenwillow Books publication by Mara Bergman, illustrated by Nick Maland. A story with few words but great message about standing up for your self and not letting yourself get pushed around.

Slowly, slowly the creeping alligator gets closer and closer. closer and closer, closer and closer. He’s a bully alright. And were the children scared? You bet they were. Until the children had ENOUGH! They SHOUT — GET OUT! and was the alligator scared? You bet he was!

Beautifully illustrated and comical with a very important message for kids and adults alike. No one should be allowed to push anyone around!

Happy reading!

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Picture books- My Fav of the month

The scraggly dog from Too Many Visitors for One Little House is finally going to get a name. We have 5 contestants of the Name the Dog Contest whose dog name made it to the finalist list. And now its time to Name the Dog! Your vote will be very appreciated.

Here are the names:

Garbanzo
Wags
Rukus
Troubles Junior
Butterscotch

If you vote you have a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com and a signed copy of Too Many Visitors for One Little House. Kids, teachers, parents and friends – Go to the link below and VOTE by emailing us YOUR choice for the dog’s name. And may then best name WIN!

http://www.booksicals.com/name-the-familys-new-dog

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NAME THE DOG CONTEST VOTE FOR BEST NAME!

We are working on a new children’s book!

My talented marketing director, Phyllis Zimbler Miller, and I were on the treadmill as usual (every day we discuss business, marketing, new ideas) and were reminiscing about a television series we had written together called Karate Moms.  About half way into the discussion — we both looked at eachother… got that funny smile that means BRIGHT IDEA across our faces and simultaneosly realized we had a new idea for a NEW children’s s book series  about Karate.

BRAIN STORM TIME — and the character of KATIE KLUTZBERG –starts coming into focus.   I run home, jot down some ideas, email to Phyl, she emails back, we write, we hone, we critique , we craft  and the story unfolds…

So here’s the story…

Katie Klutzberg comes from a long line of klutzes. She drips ketchup on her clothes during lunch, she trips in the halls, she is the last one to be picked for any athletic school team.  Katie can’ t stand being so clumsy but what can she do? She comes from a long family line of klutzes.  Then one day  the graceful Master Yu comes to school to demonstrate Karate techniques and guess who he picks to help him demonstrate?  Everyone laughs at Katie as she trips and falls in front of the whole class . But why did he pick KATIE? Does Master Yu know something no one else does?

NOW…
Treadmill time is getting more fun as we meet put other business aside (yeah) to discuss the unraveling of our new beloved Klutzy Katie and ideas for a whole  series.

I’ll be keeping you posted on the progress  of Klutzie Katie, the new Karate Kid

Talk to you soon!

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MEET KARATE KATIE- the KLUTZIEST KID IN TOWN

We’re off again!

Off and running with the November Book Tour of Too Many Visitors for One Little House. 
For the Tour’s first book give away oportunity  visit: MyHeartBelongs2BooksBlogspont.com at  http://budurl.com/holidaybookgiveaway

Stay tuned for news about more holiday book give aways!

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Holiday Book Give Aways

The second annual Dribble for The Cure Event took place today,  Nov 1,  at the UCLA Pauley Pavilion at the UCLA campus in Westwood. I was there manning a Booksicals table along with and lots of other people from the community who came out to support the work of  UCLA Mattel’s Children’s Hospital and cancer research. 

Lots of people bought copies of Too Many Visitors for One Little House to donate to the children’s library at the hospital.  Some people donated 10 books or more!

At the Booksicals booth kids  got to taste free samples of nanny’s strudel, get free apples ( an apple a day keeps the doctor a way!- says Nanny) and enter the Too Many Visitors for One Little House Dog Naming Contest. 

It was wonderful to be part of this important cause and to experience the great community turn out. 

Booksicals looks forward to working with Mattel’s Children’s  Hospital on more events for the CURE!

To get info about this wonderful event visit http://budurl.com/dribbleforcure

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BOOKSICALS Dribbles for the CURE -

Looks like Booksicals is taking off with a series of exciting  events for the fall season.  Meeting  teachers, librarians, bookstore owners and parents who are as thrilled as I am about what we are doing at Booksicals is a great boost and very energizing.

We kick off the September season with a special event at Baby Gap/Gap Kids at the Grove in Los Angeles on Wed. Sept 9, 2009.   Sunday October 25 th  Barnes and Noble, the Grove,  is hosting a Booksicals event  at 1:00pm.    

We will be hosted by the  LA Memorial Library for a family event  on Monday evening Dec 21 at 6pm.  

Wizo will be hosting a special Booksicals Event for their annual Hannukah festivity in December. 

 I look forward to an excting season. Please check out our news and events page for dates, times and places for upcoming events.   Hope to see you at a performance!

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Back to School Season and we’re off!

The Blessing of FAMILY!

What does a writer hope for?  Praise? Acclaim? Fame?  Success?  Yes all those things. 
But what is most satisfying is when a writer knows they have touched someone’s life in some way through their book. 

I was moved to tears after reading your review. I’m touched to know that reading Too Many Visitors for One Little House inspired you to appreciate the blessing of family! Thanks for your review.

 http://reviewfromhere.com/?p=117

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What Does a Writer Hopes For?

What inspires me? Who inspires me? Which authors guide my writing? What goes into writing a picture book? And other questions I answered about my creative process while preparing for my virtual book tour this month taught me so much about my own writing!

Preparing for a book tour can be grueling. However I never realized how educational it  could be  to analyze your own creative process!

I would like to thank everyone for asking so many interesting questions. 

Read my interviews, listen to radio chats and read reviews of  the July 2009 virtual tour of Too Many Visitors for One Little House at these links:

http://budurl.com/boyslovetoreadit                                                                                                  http://budurl.com/ladyDreview                                                                                                         http://budurl.com/moziesreview
http://budurl.com/intothewardrobe
http://budurl.com/unadornedbookreview                                                                                                         http://reviewfromhere.com/?p=117                                                            http://martasmeanderings.blogspot.com/2009/07/review-and-blog-tour-for-too-many.html

Interviews:
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/107489
http://budurl.com/thewriterslife
http://budurl.com/day4booktour                                                                                                  http://budurl.com/petsandtheirauthors

Radio chats:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/KimS/2009/07/14/Chat-with-Susan-Chodakiewitz

http://budurl.com/Storyheartradiochat

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My Book Tour and Learning About Me