Kick your Monday off right with an AWARENESS TOUR starring a adorable Board Book perfect for little ones just learning the ways of playtime, friendship, and balancing time! KEEP READING for a peek inside, and then stay focused because author Kat Chen is sharing a very special GUEST POST with us today all about how Kids Change Everything that you won't want to miss! After all is said and done, be sure to enter the giveaway before you whisk off to the other sites participating in The Children's Book Review tour!
by
Kat Chen
Illustrated by
Lorraine Nam
9780593659717
Rise x Penguin Workshop
About the book...
This board book series invites young readers to take part in a playdate activity of their choice, thereby empowering them with autonomy and validation. The picnic playdate models balanced and shared play, creating a positive experience that will provide readers with a reference for what caring and considered friendship looks like. Many toddlers and preschoolers consistently ask for someone to play with them, and this book provides just that for the quieter moments of the day. Simple language and gentle questions will help children develop their social skills by practicing conversations, all while engaging them in fun and familiar topics.
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*** GUEST POST ***
Kids Change Everything
...by Author Kat Chen
I was never a
doting mother. I certainly loved my kids and did my best to provide a
loving home for them. And, as far as I can tell, they’ve grown up
to be happy, contributing members of society. But I had children
because that’s what society—and most especially my mother—told
me I should. I learned how to cook (badly), went to endless
basketball and volleyball events, and drove car pool, all while
breaking into the adult romance market as a novelist.
Yay me! Yay
fulfilling career! And yay for healthy, happy children who grow up
and move out.
And then my eldest
daughter had my first grandchild.
It was a difficult
pregnancy that resulted in a premature baby. Thankfully, Ellison is
an unstoppable, vibrant, happy child as is her younger sister. And
I’ve discovered that I really love my grandkids.
I mean really,
really, really love them. Like I never did with my own children. Back
then there was too much to do, too much responsibility, too much of
everything for me to enjoy my kids. Now? I can play with the kids
until I drop, and then drop them with their mother. Cue long nap,
relaxing evening, and a full night of sleep.
Never had that as a
mother. And I never had the drive to write books that help parents
and kids interact. Overnight, I went from a novelist focused on how
couples fall in love to someone who speaks in very simple sentences.
Instead of devouring my favorite romance novels, I’m suddenly
studying how picture books are created and how they fill very
specific needs in a child’s growing awareness. Then I sit in my
office and wonder how to write a story that makes kids smile.
Talk about a
complete change of career! While my closest writer friends are
expanding into film and television, I spend my time at the library
reading dozens of picture books. I’ve gone low-tech, but I’m
hooked. And studying picture books is how I fill my time away from my
grandchildren who live many states away.
Here are some of the
things I’ve learned in my studies.
Kids love
questions. What cookie do you want? Do you like bananas? Do you see
something special in the sky? Not only is this core to language
development, it also gets them thinking about themselves and the
world. It doesn’t have to be deep. In fact, at the beginning it
should be very simple. What sock do you want? The green ones?
Picture books
cover a wide variety of topics and not just simple things. In
addition to fun stories about how life can go right or wrong,
picture books include non-fiction, emotional development, gorgeous
art, and fables both old and new. Wander through the kids section of
your local library or book store. You’ll be surprised by what you
see.
Novelty books
aren’t just lift-the-flap books anymore. There are pop dots,
finger puppets, counting beads, and of course all those electronic
noise makers. It’s another way kids interact with what they’re
reading. They have five senses, and kids want to use them all.
Play. Play.
Play. Kids and adults learn the best when they play. Find the fun in
the books. Even if it’s a serious book, the time with your child
should be fun. Talk about what you see, what you read, and laugh
about it. That’s the way to make books and your life happy.
Now you know my new
philosophy in life. Play! Have fun! Because when I approach life as a
kid, everything becomes a new toy. And a new career!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About the author...
Kat Chen is the author of several bestselling contemporary and historical romance books. She also serves on the advisory board for Books for Newborns.
After becoming a grandmother and spending most of her free time helping with “the fun stuff”—conversations, crayons, and crawling—she was inspired to delve into children’s books and help kids master the art of simple conversation through shared play.
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About the illustrator...
Lorraine Nam is an illustrator based in Brooklyn, New York. She was born in Philadelphia and spent her childhood drawing pictures and folding origami to pass the time at her parents’ jewelry store. She now spends her days combining those two loves to create her illustrations.
She is the illustrator of the picture book biography on Neil deGrasse Tyson, Look Up With Me, and the upcoming Wei Skates On, by Olympic Gold Medalist Nathan Chen.
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--- GIVEAWAY ---
Enter the giveaway for a chance to win a signed copy of Play with Me and a $25 Amazon gift card!
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Special thanks to Bianca at The Children's Book Review for the chance to bring this tour to you and to the author for sharing a bit of themselves with the guest post. (THANKS!) This post is sponsored by Kat Chen. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view. For more information on this title, the author, the publisher,
this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. Be sure to check out the rest of the stops on the tour for more bookish fun!
TOUR SCHEDULE
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Book Review of Play with Me
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Author Interview with Kat Chen
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Book Review of Play with Me
Friday, April 5, 2024
Book Review of Play with Me
Monday, April 8, 2024
Book Review of Play with Me
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Book Review of Play with Me
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Book Review of Play with Me
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Book Review of Play with Me
Friday, April 12, 2024
Book Review of Play with Me
Monday, April 15, 2024
Book Review of Play with Me
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Book Review of Play with Me
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Author Interview with Kat Chen
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Book Review of Play with Me
Friday, April 19, 2024
Instagram and TikTok Post
Monday, April 22, 2024
Guest Post
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Play with Me Book Spotlight
Until next time, remember... if it looks good, READ IT!
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