Spotlight: Jack and the Fantastical Circus by Ariel and Michael Tyson

Publication Date: November 23, 2021

Author/Illustrator: Ariel and Michael Tyson / Mary Manning

Imprint: Good & True Media

Page Count: 32

Ages: 6-10

Jack and the Fantastical Circus, the first picture book written by Ariel and Michael Tyson, the couple behind the Instagram page @arielctyson. A desire to promote virtue and sparked by their own experience of raising a family, led the pair to create this story to entertain children while teaching them valuable life lessons.

Over 600,000 people on Instagram and over 1 million on TikTok  follow the Tyson family as they share the joys and realities of raising 6 (soon to be 7) kids. The pair is passionate about guiding children and helping them become the person they are meant to be. That is the inspiration behind Jack and the Fantastical Circus (November 16, 2021; ISBN 9781737079668), which emphasizes these lessons in a fun, whimsical light.

In this dreamscape picture book, Jack and the Fantastical Circus centers around a young boy named Jack who finds himself on a Circus Train. As he makes his way through the train cars, he is introduced to new circus performers. Each performer shares with Jack their own lesson in virtue. Thus, showing children that virtue takes practice and dedication to grow.

Jack and the Fantastical Circus will encourage children to explore their imaginations, learn critical lessons, and strive to grow in virtue. It will also hopefully inspire meaningful conversations between parents and children to discuss the importance of virtue.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Hardcover | Bookshop.org

About the Author and Illustrator

Ariel and Michael Tyson have been married for 13 years. United by a shared passion for helping others, they have been serving their community since 2005. Along this journey, they have gained over 600,000 followers on their Instagram page @arielctyson, and 1 million followers on their TikTok @arielctyson and have a YouTube channel named The Tysons. Ariel has a B.S. degree from Liberty University with an M.A. degree from there as well. She is a social media content creator, college counseling professor, and homeschooler. Michael is a graduate of Liberty University, and has attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served as a pastor and entrepreneur for 15 years. The role that Ariel and Michael are the most proud of; however, is their role as parents to their 7 children, who they are passionate about raising to be confident world changers! Michael and Ariel enjoy writing, exploring the outdoors with their family, and spending time in the gym. They currently live in Tennessee with their growing family. Jack and the Fantastical Circus is their first children’s book. 

Contact:

Author’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arielctyson/?hl=en
Author's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arielctyson?lang=en

About Illustrator

Mary Manning is an illustrator with over 16 years of experience. She has a knack for bringing the imaginary world to life and a particular interest and talent in character development. Her talents have led her to work on many children’s books throughout her career as an illustrator, including Jack and the Fantastical Circus. Mary currently lives in Oklahoma with her beloved dog, Cowboy. 

Spotlight: A Christmas Kindness by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Publisher: 4RV Publishing

Pages: 52

Genre: First Chapter Reader

Eight-year-old Robert is eager to share his wish list with Santa at the mall on Christmas Eve. When he meets Glenn, who only has one request for Santa, Robert is confused about what he should do. Can he cast aside what he wants and ask Santa to bring his new friend a special gift?

Excerpt

“Oh, when will we get there?” whispered Robert from the backseat of his mother’s car. He fiddled with the pull on his coat. The wipers brushed aside the snow falling on the windshield.

As they arrived, lines of cars streamed in and out of the mall parking lot. Robert peered over his mother’s shoulder and saw her white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel. She huffed as she scanned the parking lot for an empty space. He wiggled around, but his seat belt kept him secure.

Inside the mall, Christmas music and the tinkling of jingle bells tickled Robert’s ears. With his mother, Robert weaved through the crowd of shoppers. He smelled fried food from Burger Mart. The sweet scent of warm chocolate chip cookies from the bakery made his mouth water.

Robert’s shoulders drooped when he saw how many kids waited to see Santa. There were babies, some crying and struggling to get out of their mother’s arms. Little kids, many younger than eight-year-old Robert, clung to their father’s pants or jumped up and down as they waited their turn.

“This is going to take forever!”

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About the Author

Cheryl C. Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of four children’s books including, A Christmas Kindness, released by 4RV Publishing. A member of SCBWI, she is blogger and book reviewer. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two daughters. She also has a son who is married. 

Visit Cheryl online at http://ccmalandrinos.com and her children’s book blog at https://childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com. 

Connect with Cheryl on Twitter and Facebook.

Spotlight: We the Dreamers by Raynelda a Calderon and Tatiana Kutsachenko (Illustrator)

Children’s fiction / Picture book

Date Published: November 1, 2021

Publisher: Cayena Press, Inc.

“We the Dreamers” describes the journey of immigrating to a new place through the eyes of a child. The narrative text is poetic and full of emotion. The illustrations, which seem to dance and sing, convey the story of crossing borders as a child.

This children’s picture book, told alternatively in English and in Spanish, highlights all the emotions immigrants experience throughout their journey: the characters end up feeling mystified, bemused, or even bewildered upon entering the United States.

Using colorful, imaginative illustrations and poetic narrative, “We the Dreamers” connects with its readers in an emotional and compassionate way, and it opens up the floor to holding conversations about immigration with children.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Paperback | Bookshop.org

About the Author

She has a doctorate in leadership in higher education and works as a public librarian. She is the author of “Mama Tingo,” “María Montez, the Queen of Technicolor,” and “Little Giants: 10 Hispanic Women Who Made History.” “We the Dreamers” is her second fiction book for children. She lives in New York with an untamed Shih Tzu, Toby, and a much-attached Chihuahua, Maya. She spends her free time thinking (and drafting) about books to write, painting, crocheting, and crying over abused dogs.

Connect:

Website: www.rayneldacalderon.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/raycc10

Instagram: www.instagram.com/raycc10

Spotlight: The Adventures of Amber by Isabell Hayden

Date Published: June 10, 2021

Publisher: Mindstir Media

Amber, a nature-loving girl who enjoys afternoon walks in the woods with her grandma and puppy, has an adventurous spirit and a heart that belongs to Mother Nature. She takes you on a magical journey in the woods near her grandparents' mountain cottage. Immerse yourself in the magnificent beauty of nature with the experiences from Amber's perspective. This book will inspire readers to go outdoors and appreciate the wonders of Mother Nature.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Hardcover | Paperback

About the Author

Isabell Hayden is a child author. She loves to draw, dance, read, and write. Isabell also enjoys building LEGOs with Dad, baking cupcakes with Grandma (while wearing matching aprons), solving challenging puzzles with Grandpa, playing beautiful tunes on the piano for her pup, Daisy, and, last but not least, reading a good book with Mom. Isabell hopes to write more books to share her love of nature and all things fun and creative.

Spotlight: A Rose for Grandma by Christiana Egi

Date Published: April 14, 2021

Publisher: ‎ MindStir Media

Annie loves spending time with her grandparents; they're some of her favorite people. One day she notices Grandma acting a bit strangely, and Annie learns that her warm, creative, loving grandma has Alzheimer's Disease. Although at first Annie is worried, as she learns more about dementia, she makes up her mind to help Grandma in any way she can.

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About the Author

Christiana Egi wrote A Rose for Grandma as part of an ongoing effort to eradicate the stigma around dementia and mental illness. She spent 10 years of her 34-year nursing career working in the crisis unit of Canada's largest psychiatric hospital and owns and operates Alexis Lodge Retirement Residence, Memory Care Facilities in Toronto, Canada. She believes in treating everyone with love, respect and dignity, and she has a passion for helping families and individuals as they adjust to the changes that often come with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. Christiana is a woman of faith who uses her belief as a guide as she and her staff provide daily care to individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. This is her first children's book.

Spotlight: CAMA by Cheryl Beck

Change, Kindness, Love, Forgiveness

Children's Books

Publisher: Tellwell Talent

Introducing Cama: Your Special Friend, a unique little elephant who mysteriously arrives just when she is needed most.

In this collection of stories, readers will meet memorable characters from diverse backgrounds who are facing relatable struggles. Cama shows up with magical surprises while helping the characters, and the readers, find and express their own inner strengths to overcome life's challenges.

Cama is the special friend you will wish for your children and grandchildren.

The characters are also diverse–one story centers on a Spanish-speaking family, while another follows a boy named Dayne who is trying out for the wheelchair basketball team. Children love the brightly colored, dreamlike watercolor illustrations in these relatable miniature dramas, while the straightforward prose is easy for new readers to understand. Children will easily identify with these characters and their familiar emotions–and long for a friend as special as Cama.

Buy on Hardcover | Paperback

About the Author

Cheryl Beck is an artist and small-business owner living in Carstairs, Alberta. Most importantly, she is a mother and grandmother and enjoys these titles the most.

The first story of Cama: Your Special Friend arrived as a vivid dream, which Cheryl awoke to record in the middle of the night. Excited to share Cama's adventures with her own grandchildren, Cheryl continued writing, creating a series of stories to comfort and inspire children around the world.

Connect

Website: http://www.camastories.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CamaStoriesCarstairs

BookBuzz: http://bookbuzz.net/childrens-book-cama-your-special-friend-change-kindness-love-forgiveness-by-cheryl-beck/