Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're shining the spotlight on a new(ish) title from a Children's Storybook author I featured once upon a time. Picture it...this blog, the year 2012 (have I REALLY been blogging that long? Whoa...), and a tale that moved your heart, or at least MY heart, entitled The Doll Violinist. It was beautiful in imagery, and filled with the spirit of the season we strive so hard to capture as the years go by. So...when I was contacted about another release from this author, I didn't hesitate to accept. Ready to see what cat captured this virtual tongue (pun totally intended)? Great because here comes today's title in the spotlight...
Mamá Graciela’s Secret
by
Mayra Calvani
Illustrated by
Sheila Fein
9781365861536
About the book...
Mamá Graciela’s TENDER, CRUNCHY, SPICY bacalaítos fritos are the best in town...
Local customers (including stray cats!) come from all over the island to enjoy her secret recipe. But when the Inspector discovers that Mamá secretly caters to so many cats and he threatens to close her tiny restaurant, Mamá must come up with a plan to save it—and all of the animals she loves.
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From the cover, you're thinking this is a story about cats.
From the synopsis, you're thinking it's a story about food.
You'd be wrong on both counts.
Know why?
Because you're thinking in the SINGULAR and this story deals with BOTH and so much more!
It begins as a tale of a one woman's quest to feed those hungry souls that crossed her path; be they man or beast, she saw no difference as a need was a need. I applaud her open heart and the way in which she embraced ALL those in need. Thing is...it got a little out of hand. I mean, I love our four-legged friends as much as the next person, but when you're talking about dozens, hundreds, and perhaps thousands of feline friends...it's more a community than a few frequent travelers now isn't it? When "the man" comes round after catching wind of what was happening, you can bet he wanted to put a stop to it...not because he was heartless, but because of health concerns. Surprisingly though, this kick in the proverbial skirts was exactly what she needed to discover her true passion and start the next phase of her and her husband's lives in harmony.
With colorful illustrations to capture the eye and a story that will inspire many to reach for their dreams, author Mayra Calvani has struck just the right heart strings once again for a tale worth sharing across the generations.
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About the author...
Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her children's picture book, Frederico the Mouse Violinist was a finalist in the 2011 International Book Awards; her anthology Latina Authors and Their Muses was a First Place winner at the 2016 International Latino Book Awards; her nonfiction book, The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing, was a Foreword Best Book of the Year winner. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications like The Writer, Writer's Journal, Multicultural Review, Bloomsbury Review, and others.
She lives in Belgium with her husband of 30+ years, two wonderful kids, and her three beloved pets. When she's not writing, editing, reading or reviewing, she enjoys walking with her dog, traveling, and spending time with her family. www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com
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About the illustrator...
Born in Queens, New York and living in Los Angeles since 1987, Sheila Fein has always been inspired by the changing world around her. Earning her BA in Design from Buffalo State College of New York, her concentration was on drawing, painting, printmaking, and photography. Sheila's education as an artist has taken her everywhere from Fleisher Art Memorial in Philadelphia to Bath University in England. Today, Sheila Fein runs two figurative workshops, Imaginings Sketch in LA and People Sketchers in Thousand Oaks. She has been featured in numerous collections, magazines, books, solo and group exhibitions. Her paintings and drawings reside in public and private collections. Sheila loves to make the imagination of others a reality and has done so through her commissioned Fein Fantasy Portraits and Interactive Paintings. In addition to being a fine artist Sheila works as an illustrator. She just completed the book "Mama Graciela's Secret" for Maclaren-Cochrane Publishing.
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Special thanks to Author Assistant for reaching out regarding this title as well as the ebook for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the illustrator, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now in hardback and soft cover editions, and also in a dyslexic font version (ISBN: 978-1-365-86154-3) for easier reading for one and all.
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
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