KID LIT MAGAZINE by Elnoir Jane Publishing

INSIDE

KID LIT

THE WHOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WHO OF KID LIT 20 ZACHARIAH RIPPEE 22 SASHA ALSTON 24 MICHAEL WREN 26 JUNE HYJEK

28 A. COLE 30 SUSAN ROSS 32 SIMONE T. LEWIS 34 ERICA GRAHAM 37 JACE FENNELL 41 VANESSA KALIWO ON THE COVER Dr. Brain and Mr. Strong Illustrated by Vanessa Kaliwo Written by Lashandra Hall

11 MARLEY DAVIS How she started her business 15 ADDING COLOR TO KID LIT

47 KID LIT 58 THE TECHNOLOGY CHANGES WAY KIDS PLAY Exclusive insight from Karen Stanley

62 KID LIT TEEN

Lashandra Hall shares the importance of KID LIT.

KID LIT MAGAZINE| KIDLITMAG.COM

Editor’s Letter “When it comes to our minds, the things we read and write have a bigger affect than we realize.” I’ve noticed that two things happen when you live through an era of rapid change, as we are now. First, there is an inevitable surge of artistic creativity and second the misfits, the contrarians, the underdogs and the anti-heroes come into their own. We witness the rise of the creative. This look of the July issue of KID LIT is dedicated to those people, the creative revolutionaries who create differently. As an author and business woman I saw a need for fellow writers as well as readers such as myself. Most importantly the kids who read and interpret books and in turn become little creatives. It’s important that kid literature is given the spotlight it deserves. The very reason we decided to shed light on the Who’s Who of kid literature. Each issue a selected group of authors and children's book are given the tools they need to prosper through this platform.We've made a bold, brave magazine to celebrate them and give these important, varied new voices a place to talk about who they are and what they stand for. I am incredibly proud of what the KID LIT team has created and curated on the pages that follow, and this issue is one of the highlights of my career as Editor-in-Chief. From our interviews, author spotlights and kid authors we have shone the spotlight on inspiring people who I hope will provoke stimulating ideas..Creating this colorful magazine, with its unique and collectable covers, has been an epic project. It's been an unstoppable roller coaster for us as we reimagined every single page and every single shoot. As I write, my inbox is brimming with everyone's memories of making July KID LIT 2016: phone interview via Skype all the way to Malawi, the relentless hours spent perfecting layouts, the hundreds of mood-boards and all the emails, transatlantic phone calls and transcribing cover interviews through the night. It is an awesome feeling launching a new magazine, and even more special to be giving every page such lengthy care and attention.So now it's over to you. What do you think of our new look, both in print and online? What do you like and what is missing? Let us know on the @KIDLITMAG Instagram and we'll see what we can deliver in our forthcoming issues.

-Lashandra Hall Lashandra Hall

Editor-in-Chief

LETTERS AND COMMENTS KIDLIT@GMAIL.COM SUBSCRIPTION WWW.KIDLITMAG.COM

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KID LIT FEATURE I "believe black girl books are really important because when you are young you want to read lots of books, but you especially like to read books with people that look like you. Marley Dias is the promising, 12 year-old social activist behind #1000BlackGirlBooks, an international movement to collect and donate children’s books that feature Black girls as the lead character. Since birth, Marley has been immersed in the world of social activism, surrounded by a village of caring, concerned, active adults and children dedicated to serve to humanity, and specifically people of African descent. When she was 5 years old, her mother, Dr. Janice Johnson Dias, co-founded the GrassROOTS Community Foundation (GCF), a public health and social action organization dedicated to the support and empowerment of people who live in impoverished communities, especially women and young girls. Her father, Scott Dias, is a Real Estate Analytical Geographer. Both parents have been instrumental in developing Marley’s understanding of key social justice issues and commitment to social change. When she became frustrated by a lack of Black female role models in her school books—and her mother asked her what she was going to do about it—she knew exactly how to respond. With the help of GrassROOTS, Marley launched the #1000BlackGirlBooks drive in November of 2015, leveraging the power of social media to reach a large audience. The goal was to collect 1,000 books featuring Black female protagonists by February 2016. The story went viral and was picked up by media outlets around the world as well as bloggers, schools, youth-focused organizations and thousands of individuals who wanted to participate in the project.

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A FATHERS LOVE IS PRICELESS

ADDING COLOR TO KIDLIT

EXCLUSIVE

WITH LASHANDRA HALL

I have two nephews, and five nieces. I buy toys and books all the time. It seems like it’s someones birthday or holiday every month. I’m an active aunt who rarely gets a giftgiving break. When I go into a store to choose a toy or book I notice one thing. There isn’t much color on the shelf.

Every book I pick up depicts a character they can't immediately identify with. Then, I think to myself: How can my babies relate to someone that doesn’t look like them? In turn, I choose to write stories like Dancing In My Shoes and The Adventures of Dr. Brian and Mr. Strong so they can see themselves in powerful and brave light. Kids are impressionable and replicate what they see. I wanted to create literature where they could see themselves and know it is ok to be who you are. I rarely saw children of color in books. I felt it was my duty as a writer to make sure our kids new what every aspect of literature looked like. Adding color back into literature is the perfect way to start. I write books tailored to selfawareness, individuality, and acceptance. It's very important that peo-

ple, adults and kids, are aware and engage. Most importantly my nieces and nephews.

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WHO'S WHO IN KID LIT

KID LIT

Each month we search the globe for independent authors making monumental strides in the literary world. Featuring individuals who have set the standard for kid literature. KID LIT has embarked on a community connected by words. The next few pages are filled with the chosen ones. The Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Who in KID LIT. Welcome to a world where writers create stories, illustrators bring those stories to life, and cover designers seal the deal. This list is meant to introduce children, and the adults who care for them, to new children's literature and the people who create it. Enjoy!

-Lashandra Hall KID LIT MAGAZINE| KIDLITMAG.COM

KID LIT AUTHOR

ZACHARIAH RIPPEE HOMETOWN: WILLARD FAVORITE KID BOOK: THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS FAVORITE CARTOON: BATMAN AUTHOR OF: ELIJAH AND THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE

“I CREATE BOOKS BECAUSE I WANT OUR CHILDREN TO DISCOVER THE FREEDOM TO MAKE THE BRIGHTEST FUTURE POSSIBLE.”

ZR: I am an educator. I have also spent the last four years of my life working with at-risk youth at a residential treatment facility. The truth is, children are our future. Not only on a local, state, or national level, but on a global level children are the future of humanity. Children’s books play such an important role in the development of our youth, and thus our future. Morals, strength of character, knowledge of the world around us, imagination, creativity, and more are all developed and strengthened through the stories we share with our children. KID LIT: Where do you get ideas for your books? ZR: My own personal experiences and my children tend to be my main inspirations. KID LIT: As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

Q&A with

Zachariah Ripee

KID LIT: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? ZR: Well, to be honest, I never really set out to be “a writer”. However, our lives take amazing plot twists sometimes. Art has always been a passion of mine. I consider my “becoming an author” much like an accidental caterpillar/ butterfly story. Becoming an author has been another step in the evolution of my artistic hobbies. It wasn’t until after my first book was published, when I sat and read my book to elementary students in my home town, that I truly fell in love with “being a writer”.

ZR: As a child I wanted to do 2 things when I grew up: be BATMAN, and be a father. So far I have accomplished one of those. It is one of my greatest achievements! However, if you know of anyone selling a cave, please send me their number! KID LIT: What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? ZR: I learned that if you are willing to put in the work, self-publishing can be fairly painless and very satisfying. So many people have wonderful and amazing stories to share. However,, they are hesitant to start writing because they fear the process, or see it as a giant undertaking that can’t be conquered. Once you start though, you will find that it can be done fairly easily.

KID LIT: Why do you think children’s books are important?

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KID LIT AUTHOR

SASHA ALSTON HOMETOWN: ST. LOUIS

FAVORITE KID LIT: DIARY OF A WIMPY KID FAVORITE CARTOON: LAB RATS AUTHOR OF: SASHA SAVVY LOVES TO CODE

Sasha Savvy Loves to Code is an early reader chapter book (ages 7-10). The main character, Sasha Savvy, is a super smart 10-year old African-American girl, who lives in Washington, DC. Sasha must choose which class to take for summer camp. Her mom discovers that the camp is offering a new class for girls on how to code. Sasha thinks this will be boring and doesn’t believe that she is good at computer stuff.

Sasha Ariel Alston is the author of the children’s book "Sasha Savvy Loves to Code". From Washington, DC, she is currently an Information Systems Major with a minor in Marketing at Pace University in New York in the Lubin School of Business. With successful information technology and business internships at Infor, Microsoft, EverFi, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Many Mentors, and the National Academy Foundation behind her, she is a sought-after speaker to encourage youth, especially girls of color, to pursue educational and career opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Sasha was also the recipient of the Imani Award and the Prize for Achievement Award by Kurt Giessler Foundation, a Finalist in the Youth Essay Category of the Larry Neal Writers’ Award presented by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and was published in the Harvard Educational Review - Youth Voices.

Despite this, she decides to give it a chance and convinces her best friends Gabby Reyes and Ashley Webster, to attend the coding camp with her. Sasha’s mom, a Software Developer, gives her a unique formula to help her remember how to code but will it be enough to get her through a challenging first day of camp with bugs everywhere, computing errors, that is.

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LOVE WINS

KID LIT AUTHOR

MICHAEL MIKEY WREN HOMETOWN: ST. LOUIS FAVORITE KID LIT: DIARY OF A WIMPY KID FAVORITE CARTOON: LAB RATS AUTHOR OF:MIKEY LEARNS ABOUT BUSINESS

“LITTLE PEOPLE CAN DO BIG THINGS TOO!”

and that I was to young to have a business. In my book I talk about the things I had to learn to start my business for example business plan, marketing, getting the money to pay for the machines etc. KID LIT: What was the hardest part of writing this book? MW:The hardest part for me was all the drafts I had to write before I finished the book. KID LIT: Did you learn anything from writing this book and what was it? MW: I learned that sharing my story in a fun created way would inspire other children all around the world to Dream Big! KID LIT: Is there a message in your novel that you hope readers will grasp? MW:That Little people can do big things too.

Q&A Michael Wren KID LIT: What books have most influenced your life?

KID LIT: If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be? MW: I would like to be a Professional Athlete or own a professional team

MW: Dr. Suess books. My favorite is" oh the places you'll go" KID LIT: We all need a hero! Tell us about your protagonist(s)? Was there a real-life inspiration behind him or her? MW: Yes, My parents are my inspiration. My mom especially my Mom, she always says Dr. Suess quotes to me and my little sister. In my book Biz the briefcase is really my mom. All the things that Biz taught me in the story was very the things my mom taught me. KID LIT: What real-life inspirations did you draw from for the world building within your book? MW: Mikey Learns about Business came from my real life experience and how I started my business. I wanted vending machines and my mom said No, KID LIT MAGAZINE| KIDLITMAG.COM

KID LIT AUTHOR

JUNE HYJEK HOMETOWN: RUMFORD

FAVORITE KID LIT: MADELINE FAVORITE CARTOON: TOO MANY TO CHOOSE AUTHOR OF: BEING GRACE

ney. I also have Scoliosis and have had seven spine surgeries, so I know what it’s like to be crooked. Learning this self-acceptance is something I work on every day, and I believe it is the secret to truly being happy. I believe that discovering that place of complete comfort in our own skin, fully accepting, being at peace with and loving who we are, where we are and what we’re doing – that place is grace. Grace the Giraffe embodies that place, and I strive to get there, too. I hope we all try to teach this to our children. KID LIT: What real-life inspirations did you draw from for the world building within your book?

Q&A with

June Hyjek

KID LIT: How do you develop your plots and characters? JH: I start by determining the message, and I ask myself a lot of questions. What is it I want to share? What do I want to tell the world? Who or what is the best character to effectively deliver that message? How will my character discover that message? I’m a spontaneous creative.The process is often that I wake up in the middle of the night, run to the computer and start writing. Sleep and meditation are my best sources for creative development. KID LIT: We all need a hero! Tell us about your protagonist(s)? Was there a real-life inspiration behind him or her? JH: My main character is Grace the Giraffe, who has Scoliosis. She’s the hero, not because she saves her town from starving, but because she learns to be completely accepting of herself. She learns that simply being who you are is the best you can be. Although I don’t think I’m as fully accepting of myself as Grace is, (unfortunately, it’s a process) I did pattern her after myself because that has been my jour-

JH: When I created the world that Grace lives in, I wanted it to be a kind, supportive community where people work together to solve problems and genuinely respect each other, including the children. I think this kind of world creates children who can learn to find self-acceptance. I did have to include a bully, though, because there usually is one. Grace’s bully, Bruce, came from my own childhood bully, and I reacted just as Grace does initially. Also, when Charity approaches Grace the first time and is overly compassionate to the point of pity, Grace reacts with anger. That, too, was an experience I had. People who have something different about themselves don’t want someone else’s pity. They don’t want others to even think they’re different or mention it at all. But all that means is that Grace wasn’t dealing with what’s different about her, nor was I when I had my own Charity approach me. What Grace and I had to learn is that, in order to fully accept all of you, you must first accept what’s different about you. KID LIT: What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why? JH: My favorite part, of course, is when Grace saves the day and really believes in herself! But myfavorite part to actually write was the final verse, because it came from my heart:

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KID LIT AUTHOR

A.COLE HOMETOWN: HERNDON

FAVORITE KID LIT: THE SNOWY DAY FAVORITE CARTOON: SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS AUTHOR OF: WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE MYSELF

“GET OUT YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND STAY OUT YOUR COMFORT ZONE”

look for exciting characters who represent all ethnic and marginalized communities when choosing stories that are featured in my Diverse Books 4 Diverse Kids podcasts. KID LIT: What was the hardest part of starting this broadcast?

Q&A with A. Cole KID LIT: What books have most influenced your life? AC: The very classic, Aesop's Fables. I love the idea of having moral based stories. This book in particular taught me life lessons like how to treat one another, fairness, and to not to judge others on face value. KID LIT: How do you develop your ideas for your broadcast? AC: I think about what lessons I'd like to teach the children I would read to when I was teaching grade school. Lessons like how to be a good friend, looking past skin color, learning about new cultures and language, forgiveness, appreciation of family, and other topics that would help kids be more socially aware. KID LIT: We all need a hero! Tell us about real-life inspiration?

AC: There were some setbacks with the production of the show. Originally I pitched this show called 'Diversity In Kids' Literature' to an independent radio station in Washington, DC. After a few months of waiting to hear back from the committee in charge, I decided to begin doing podcasts independently. As an independent podcaster, I was able to control when the show would air and how frequently I could host the segments. KID LIT: What was your favorite part of the broadcast and why? AC: I genuinely love connecting with the selfpublished authors that I get to work with. Not only am I building a network of like-minded artists, I'm giving them a platform to show their work so more people see the need for the books we produce. KID LIT: Is there a message in your podcast that you hope readers will grasp? AC: Get out your comfort zone and stay out of your comfort zone. Life is so much more exciting when you're learning about what you don't know.Q: Why do you feel Kid Literature is so important?A: Kids literature is important because the stories that kids read help them learn about other people's perspectives. Sometimes it's the author's perspective and other times it's the character's. To love other people who are different from us, we have to learn to understand them.

AC: My daughter, Aria Rose. She's the reason I started paying attention to children's books and the lack of diversity in the children's book genre. Aria's thick curly hair and bold personality served as the inspiration for the main character in my picture book "When I Grow Up, I Want To Be Myself". I continue to KID LIT MAGAZINE| KIDLITMAG.COM

KID LIT AUTHOR

SUSAN ROSS HOMETOWN: TORONTO

FAVORITE KID LIT: A LITTLE PRINCESS FAVORITE CARTOON: FLINSTONES AUTHOR OF: THE GREAY BELLY BUTTON COVER-UP

Susan Ross is a Canadian children’s author with a unique sense of humour and a background in education. Her delightful stories and the charming illustrations will have children laughing out loud, unaware that they are expanding their vocabulary and improving their social skills. And there’s more fun to come! Craft instructions, included in every book, provide additional entertainment while encouraging creativity and the development of fine motor skills. Even reluctant readers will find these children’s books engaging.

idea that they will be read to the child, at least initially. My greatest pleasure is when parents tell me they were asked to reread my books so many times that they actually hid them to save their sanity. (I hope the kids found the books.) Parent/child interaction and bonding needs constant nurturing and reading together is the perfect for this purpose. Immersing your child in children's literature will increase the likelihood of their success at school. Book ownership, in fact, has been proven to increase the likelihood your child will further their education after high school. This does not mean you need to purchase new books (although I'd love it if you purchase mine, of course). Second hand bookstores and thrift shops offer a great alternative to buying new. I buy many of my own books that way. And this is not to undermine the importance of taking your child to the library once a week. But book ownership, seeing your own books lined up on the bookshelf, tempting you to read your favorite books again and again, and knowing they're yours; well, nothing can replace that feeling of pride of ownership.So surround your child with books and read to them every day. The results will be rewarding

Susan Ross on why KID LIT is important? The bottom line is books build brains. Reading enhances a child's language skills and vocabulary. It aids in the development of a child's creativity, concentration and imagination. Cuddling together with a bedtime story is a wonderful way to share quality time with your child. My books are written with the KID LIT MAGAZINE| KIDLITMAG.COM

KID LIT AUTHOR

SIMONE T. LEWIS HOMETOWN: TAMARAC

FAVORITE KID LIT: NO DAVID FAVORITE CARTOON: SAILOR MOON AUTHOR OF: THE ADVENTURES OF SETH AND SHADOW

“I LEARNED THAT ITS NEVER TOO LATE TO PURSUE YOUR DREAMS.” and control his temper tantrums amongst the other numerous demands of a preschooler to earn the opportunity to be student of the week. Once he is selected the book documents the adventures of Seth and his new pal Shadow. KID LIT: What real-life inspirations did you draw from for the world building within your book? SL: Being selected as student / helper or the week is a goal for many children. However this task may not be as easy for some and many become discouraged as in the case of my son Seth. This prompted me to write a book that would not only inspire him but other young children to never give up. KID LIT: What was the hardest part of writing this book? SL: Writing the book wasn’t difficult for me because it came from a place of love and a desire to inspire my son. A mother’s love truly inspired me to step out of my comfort zone.

Q&A with Brittany Nicole Lewis KID LIT: What books have most influenced your life? SL: “A Raisin in the Sun “ by Lorraine Hansberry and “ Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. KID LIT: How do you develop your plots and characters? SL: The plot and characters of my stories are all inspired by events of my now 6yr old son Seth’s life.

KID LIT: We all need a hero! Tell us about your protagonist(s)? Was there a real-life inspiration behind h i m o r h e r ?  SL: The protagonist , was inspired by my five year old named Seth, who is eager to be selected as the student of the week so that he can earn the chance to take home the class’ stuffed rabbit, Shadow. However , Seth is uncertain if he was able to follow rules

KID LIT: What was your favorite chapter (or part) to w r i t e a n d w h y ?   SL: My favorite part of the story was wan the main character “ Seth,” realizes that he has been selected to be the student of the week and states that he never thought that he would be selected. KID LIT: Did you learn anything from writing this book and what was it? SL: I learned that it is never too late to pursue your dreams.. I have always desired to write a children’s book but shied away from the notion due to the negative feedback from others. KID LIT: Is there a message in your novel that you hope readers will grasp? SL: The Adventures of Seth and Shadow- Super Duper Student of the Week is the first in what will hopefully become a series of books aimed at instilling character traits in children utilizing relatable stories. Super Duper Student of the Week teaches children the important lesson of perseverance using the concept or being selected as a helper / student of the week by a teacher , which is a concept that many children preschool – primary grades can relate to regardless of race or ethnicity.  KID LIT MAGAZINE| KIDLITMAG.COM

KID LIT AUTHOR

ERICA GRAHAM HOMETOWN: COLLINSVILLE

FAVORITE KID LIT: HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON FAVORITE CARTOON: GARFIELD AUTHOR OF: TALKING TALES: PUPPY’S BUBBLE

KID LIT: What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? EG: I wouldn’t call this surprising, but it is very important none the less. Do not leave your illustrations sitting out when a toddler is nearby; especially when that toddler has access to crayons. One of the most important lessons I have learned comes from beta readers. Sometimes I come up with a story that I believe will excite young readers. Before proceeding with publishing a book, I always refer my books to a test audience of children and adults. In a few instances I have found that ideas I liked are not as entertaining to my readers. Beta readers are essential in the publishing process. KID LIT: As a child, did you like to read? If so, what type of books?

Q&A with Erica Graham

EG: I did love reading as a child. I enjoyed various genres as long as the books captured my imagination and caused me to experience something from a different perspective. One of my favorites was the Dear America series. These books were written in the form of a child’s journal and took place during various important historical time periods. Books for me provided a gateway to escape, imagination and learning.

KID LIT: When did you first realize you wanted to be

KID LIT: Why do you like to create books for children?

EG: I have always enjoyed writing and entertaining. After my brother published his first book he encouraged me to pursue an idea that I had for children's books that promoted speech development.

EG: I enjoy writing books that provide parents and children time to bond while allowing the parent an innovative way to encourage their child’s development. When children are learning to speak, they first observe how words sound. This helps them develop an understanding of speech sounds as they learn to talk. Many times when we are working on encouraging speech development or correcting speech sounds, speech-language pathologists will use word lists. I wanted to combine my knowledge as a speech-language pathologist with my love for writing to create an entertaining way for children and their caregivers to work on speech development and promote literacy. I also wanted to ensure that these books contained fun story lines that could be enjoyed by children who are not working on their speech.

a writer?

KID LIT: Why do you think children’s books are important?

EG: Books provide an essential foundation for children. Reading to your children from a young age helps them develop the building blocks for literacy and learning as well as improved language and social skills. KID LIT: Where do you get ideas for your books? The ideas for my books often come at the least expected times. A book can be inspired by anything from a conversation, to playing with my children, to a random thought. I always carry a notebook and pen with me because I never know when a new idea will present itself.

KID LIT: As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? EG: Throughout grade school I dreamed of becoming a marine biologist. Until I realized that my inability to swim may be a bit of an occupational hazard. KID LIT MAGAZINE| KIDLITMAG.COM

KID LIT AUTHOR

JOURNEY THROUGH HAWAII WITH JACE

Jace Fennell,

a third-grade student from Fairburn,

Georgia, has launched his children’s book that will inspire the world to travel to new places. Journey Through Hawaii with Jace” will demonstrate real-life examples of living life to the fullest. The illustrator Chasity Hampton created colorful and vivid illustrations that will fly you through the rich cultures and sceneries of various countries. “I get to explore new places with my family and create memories that I will have forever and ever,” said Jace. “And now I can take kids with me on my incredible adventures! A happy child is a happy adult! “Journey Through Hawaii with Jace” is a choose your adventure book where you can read this book in 28 different ways. Depending on the choices you make, you decide how your adventure begins and ends. “I wanted this book to stand out and not be ordinary. My mom would always ask us this: What do you want to do first? Anybody that reads this book, should have that choice too.

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VANESSA KALIWO HOMETOWN: MALAWI

KID LIT ILLUSTRATOR

FAVORITE KID LIT: ONCE UPON A CLOUD FAVORITE CARTOON: MOANA ILLUSTRATOR OF: DR. BRAIN AND MR STRONG

hooked ever since. She strives to ensure that she leaves the world just a little more beautiful than she found it. Vanessa has illustrated Dancing In My Shoes and The Adventures of Dr. Brain and Mr. Strong.

Vanessa Kaliwo is a Lawyer by day and Artist/ Illustrator by night. She was born and raised in Malawi, the warm heart of Africa and got her LLB degree at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. She's currently based in the lovely city of Lilongwe, Malawi. Vanessa is a completely selftaught artist.

“Vanessa Kaliwo is an amazing talent we discovered in a small African city. KID LIT will search the globe to find phenomenal people with phenomenal talents. Ms. Kaliwo you are phenomenal. We wish you luck! KID LIT

After graduating from Law School in 2016 she took the year off to pursue her passion in art and illustration and cultivate her skills. She stumbled upon the wonderful world of children's books illustration towards the end of 2016 and has been KID LIT MAGAZINE| KIDLITMAG.COM

KID LIT ILLUSTRATOR

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KID LIT DESIGN

VANESSA MENDOZZI Vanessa is a freelance graphic designer based in London, available for book cover and interior book design.

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KID LIT DESIGN

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KID LIT DESIGN

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KID LIT PHOTOGRAPHY

COURTESY OF CARLOS ANTHONY

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KID LIT

WHEN I GROW UP, I WANT TO BE MYSELF My story titled "When I Grow Up, I Want to Be Myself" was inspired by myself and many other little girls who struggle to stay unique in a world where most people look and think alike. Naya, the main character is an eight year old girl who feels ashamed that she is not prepared for her class' career day. She has a realization that although she does not know what she wants to be when she grows up, she knows the type of person she wants to be. This book celebrates diversity, uniqueness, fearlessness, and individualism.

Mikey is a 9 year old who wants to start a business, but he doesn’t know how. Mikey meets a magical briefcase name “Biz” that guides him through what it takes to start a business. Mikey learns how to write a business plan, marketing strategies, networking and much more. Mikey Learns about Business was written by 9 year old Mikey to help his peers learn about business basics.

MIKEY LEARNS ABOUT BUSINESS

Violet's been sheared and she's very embarrassed. Everyone can see her bellybutton! Being an extremely creative sheep, Violet comes up with hilarious and imaginative ways to solve her dilemma. Violet's antics will enthrall children as she dons cotton candy, chicken feathers, balloons and finally ends up back in her own wool. Make a sheep. Instructions included. For children ages 2 to 8.

THE GREAT BELLYBUTTON COVER-UP KID LIT MAGAZINE| KIDLITMAG.COM

KID LIT

JOURNEY THROUGH HAWAII WITH JACE A young boy named Jace wants to take you on a journey through the exotic destination of Hawaii with him. The reader will be able to experience all of the beauty and excitement that this Hawaiian destination has to offer first hand. It will be up to the reader to choose the order of the adventure because you will decide your own direction for each excursion. Please use this book as a guide if you go, want to go, or dream about going to the beautiful Island of Hawaii.

When Puppy wakes up from a nap, he sees a bubble. When it disappears, Puppy begins his long journey to find the missing bubble. Will Puppy find the bubble, or has it vanished forever? This engaging story is a fun way to read to little ones while promoting babbling, early words and language skills. It provides over 90 examples of some of the earliest developing sounds in their most common word positions including "p", "b", "m", "n", "d" and "h". This book also includes tips for encouraging speech development.

TALKING TALES PUPPY’S BUBBLE

The Adventures of Seth and Shadow was inspired by the daily adventures of the author’s son Seth as he transitions from preschool to elementary.

THE ADVENTURES OF SETHE AND

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KID LIT Being Grace intends to raise awareness of Scoliosis and shows us the emotional consequences of the condition through the story of Grace, a young giraffe who is diagnosed at an early age. With her curved neck, Grace finds herself bullied at school because she looks different from the other giraffes. But her crooked neck allows her to do something none of hte other giraffes can do, and she beings to understand that something that may seem wrong can actually be right. Grace learns that all that matters is what she believes, not what other people say. She finds joy in just being herself, and accepts that all she can do is be "Grace."

SASHA SAVVY LOVES TO CODE

BEING GRACE Sasha Savvy Loves to Code is an early reader chapter book (ages 7-10). The main character, Sasha Savvy, is a super smart 10-year old African-American girl, who lives in Washington, DC. Sasha must choose which class to take for summer camp. Her mom discovers that the camp is offering a new class for girls on how to code. Sasha thinks this will be boring and doesn’t believe that she is good at computer stuff. Despite this, she decides to give it a chance and convinces her best friends Gabby Reyes and Ashley Webster, to attend the coding camp with her. Sasha’s mom, a Software Developer, gives her a unique formula to help her remember how to code but will it be enough to get her through a challenging first day of camp with bugs everywhere, computing errors, that is.

Elijah and his friends love adventure. Today their quest takes them on an epic journey to find the magical KEY of KNOWLEDGE! Along the way, the explorers encounter one obstacle after another. Giant rocks, a raging river, even grumpy guard monkeys stand between our heroes and their destiny. It will take strength, courage, teamwork, and some clever thinking to complete this quest. In the end, only one has the power to claim the KEY!

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TECHNOLOGY CHANGES THE WAY KIDS PLAY

BY KAREN STANLEY

Your average 7 year old can ‘fix’ the telly far faster than your average 70 year old –mind you, your average 2 year old could have a pretty good go! At an age when us old folk didn’t know our gigabyte from our giggles, today’s youngsters are familiar with a virtual world the like of which we could never have dreamed possible. The consequences associated with such a sedentary form of play - where only the thumbs receive any significant exercise are fairly obvious. Climbing a virtual tree really doesn’t get the limbs moving, or the heart pumping, quite as fast as climbing a real one; and you don’t lose weight riding a virtual bicycle or kicking a virtual ball. But perhaps the biggest impact is upon childhood imagination. In a virtual world where graphics are so sophisticated and readily available, reading a book and actually having to imagine the pictures seems rather a lot of effort. If you are visually spoon fed adventures in which you are always the hero and you get to climb walls, jump over buildings, and battle demons and dragons; then the poor old imagination starts to feel a little inadequate by comparison and sort of goes to sleep. How does imagining you are Spiderman, compare with actually being Spiderman? But then KID LIT MAGAZINE| KIDLITMAG.COM

TECHNOLOGY CHANGES THE WAY KIDS PLAY CONTINUED...

again, without sophisticated graphics and realistic simulation, school children couldn’t experience killer whales diving up over their heads in their very own school hall - it seems one generation’s impossible is the next generation’s possible. What about the shoot ‘em and steal ‘em nature of computer games – should we be worried? Even in the most ‘innocent’ of games, characters readily ‘die’ falling off bridges or plunging into rivers, only to experience miraculous reincarnation within seconds. Not really a real life scenario, where you have to learn that dangerous behavior leads to pain and plasters - not to mention a ticking off from your mum!

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“But perhaps the biggest impact is upon childhood imagination.”

Computer games are, in essence, solitary pastimes; even two player games, require each participant to be thoroughly engrossed in their own play, barely speaking to their opponent except to maybe call ‘jump, jump’ at the screen. It’s hard to concentrate if you’re busily chatting to your mate - and computer games require a lot of concentration.Even pubs and popular fast food restaurants now have TV screens to amuse young diners should they grow bored between mouthfuls. Time was when you sat around a table and you talked to your family whether you liked it or not eating with the TV on was not an option! Technology is arguably a double-edged sword – lots of concentration but less conversation, great graphics but a sleepy imagination, lots of amusement but much less movement. Do we think kids are better off with or without it? That’s surely a matter of opinion. Now - if I could just find a kid to help me with this pesky remote….

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TECHNOLOGY CHANGES THE WAY KIDS PLAY

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KID LIT TEEN

LORD OF SHADOWS Sunny Los Angeles can be a dark place indeed in Cassandra Clare’s Lord of Shadows, the sequel to the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Lady Midnight. Lord of Shadows is a Shadowhunters novel. Emma Carstairs has finally avenged her parents. She thought she’d be at peace. But she is anything but calm. Torn between her desire for her parabatai Julian and her desire to protect him from the brutal consequences of parabatai relationships, she has begun dating his brother, Mark. But Mark has spent the past five years trapped in Faerie; can he ever truly be a Shadowhunter again?

ONCE AND FOR ALL Is it really better to have loved and lost? Louna's summer job is to help brides plan their perfect day, even though she stopped believing in happily-ever-after when her first love ended tragically. But charming girl-magnet Ambrose isn't about to be discouraged now that he's met the one he really wants. Maybe Louna's second chance is standing right in front of her. Sarah Dessen’s many fans will adore this latest novel, a richly satisfying, enormously entertaining story with humor, romance, and an ending that is so much more than happily-ever-after.

CRAZY HOUSE Seventeen-year-old Becca Greenfield was snatched from her small hometown. She was thrown into a maximum-security prison and put on Death Row with other kids her age. Until her execution, Becca's told to fit in and shut her mouth. but Becca's never been very good at either. Her sister Cassie was always the perfect twin. Becca's only hope is that her twin sister will find her. That perfect little prissy assie will stop following the rules and start breaking

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