HI there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're teaming up with
The Children's Book Review to shine the bookish spotlight on a very timely title that's perfect for those feeling like they are just trudging through their time stuck at home during this pandemic. With delightful illustrations and a great little leading lady to follow along with, readers will perhaps appreciate, if not understand more fully, the unique situation they've been put in, and just how much above and beyond a positive health status they stand to gain! Ladies and gents, feast your eyes upon today's blog tour guest and title in the spotlight...
by
Jay Dee
9780989810876
Kraine Kreative
Illustrated by
Jacob Chalkley, Darren Geers,
Feras Khagani, Mike Shaposhnikov,
Ishmam Ahmed, and Axel Schmidt
About the book...
Ellen is stuck at home. There’s no school and no friends, and Mom is working all the time. It seems terrible until she learns about the choice each day offers: GET through it or GROW through it. See how starting each day with purpose and gratitude can make all the difference! Created during the CV-19 pandemic, 100% of the proceeds from sales of this book are donated to coronavirus relief efforts.
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Sounds good, right?
Well, let's take this post one step further.
We were offered the opportunity to host a GUEST POST from the author himself with a topic of our choosing. Guess what I suggested? Yep. You got it! Please put your hands together for author Jay Dee as we learn more about his recent time within the confines of his four walls called home...
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GUEST POST: Author Jay Dee
Four Things I’ve Rediscovered During Quarantine
(And One I Have Not!)
When asked to create a list of things I’ve rediscovered during quarantine, the first thing that popped into my head was all the stuff I’ve seen others rediscover. I have certainly sampled the smorgasbord of hobbies that quarantine life has presented us all.
So, here are four things I’ve genuinely rediscovered, plus one that won’t stick.
Play: Rediscovered
Quarantine has brought a whole new meaning to the wordplay. Simple pleasures, digital and analog, have become wonderful ways to spend time with my husband, friends, and family over video chat. While potluck dinners and get-togethers may be on hold, there’s a whole new way to play that seems somehow more uncomplicated and pure.
Sure it will be nice to get together with friends and family again (soon I hope!), but I never want to lose this appreciation for playtime.
Top things I’m Playing right now:
Dominion (Board/Card Game)
Legos (Childhood Memory)
Jackbox⦁ Games (Video Game)
Chilling Out: Rediscovered
I’m a pretty hyperactive person, so this forced slowdown, like many others, and put my core identity at risk. So, in my tiny 500-sq. Ft apartment in San Francisco, I’ve taped a post-it note to the corner wall I commandeered as an “office,” which reads: Chill. It’s a Pandemic.
I’ve heard that we are all in the same storm, but different boats. Being kind to myself and to others who are all impacted differently by the pandemic has had a profound impact on my life. I used to go crazy doing nothing, feeling like I’d wasted the day away. Now I appreciate that “just chilling” can be a remarkably powerful thing to choose to do.
Top things I’m Chilling Out with:
The Remembrance of Earth’s Past Trilogy (SciFi)
⦁ Home Brewed Coffee (Decaf after 11)
⦁ Texas Heat (Cocktail)
Jump-Rope: Rediscovered
With gyms closed, it was tempting to feel “off the hook” and just let my new intensified snacking habit become a replacement way of life. Fortunately, a garage, a yoga mat, and a jump rope have kept a sedentary lifestyle at bay.
Does anyone remember Jump Rope For Heart? While “rediscovering” this website for my blog post is bursting my bubble to see elementary school kids crushing my adult record, it’s funny to think back to raising money in Flower Mound, TX, through the same program. (Which randomly reminds me of other wonderful childhood activity-a-thon’s like Book It!)
My top quarantine Physical Activities:
⦁ Jumping Rope
⦁ Hiking
Giving: Rediscovered
I swear this is not meant to invoke, “Ooh, look at me.” Friends, family, and coaching clients are sharing a similar pull towards giving back. It’s a beautiful part of human nature—building community—that as we settle into this “new normal,” we seek ways to help others.
I credit this to an ability to reframe our own situation. Sure, things may not be great, but they are likely a lot better than they are for many others. It’s easy to focus on the bad news, but giving back is a quick forcing mechanism to remember how lucky I am. Writing Grow Through It to benefit UNICEF’s coronavirus relief efforts was a part of this, but simpler ways to give back have popped up too.
Top Ways I’m Giving Back:
● Giving more time to pro bono coaching
● Choosing local, small businesses whenever possible
● Donating “Grow Through It” proceeds
Cooking: Have Not Discovered
No matter how many Instagram and Facebook posts I see about the incredible sourdough a friend has made or the adventurous meals they’re trying, I cannot get into this. Sure, I had high hopes. I even went so far as to bake cookies and a loaf of soda bread (way easier than sourdough), but it took almost no time at all before carry out returned as the main staple for meals.
While anything can happen, I do not think a turnaround is likely, and this is one quarantine bandwagon that I’ll let pass me by. I think my food delivery is right behind it anyway.
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About the author...
Jay Dee is an author, a certified coach, and the freshly crowned video chat expert for his nieces and nephews. As the coronavirus lockdown seemed to put life on pause, he was inspired to create a book that reminded kids (and himself!) that even days spent sheltering in place are opportunities to grow. Jay lives in San Francisco and is the author of the bestseller, The Night Before The Night Before Christmas. Find his other books at www.krainekreative.com.
The Illustration Team...
Jacob Chalkley
Jacob is UX Designer based out of San Francisco, CA. His passions include music, movies, and making sure his portfolio is 5yrs out of date. His previous achievements include runner-up for student council president for Van Buren Elementary 1996, perfect attendance award for Plainfield Middle School in 1999, and achieving a bowling score of 132 in 2018. He has been using his lockdown time to prepare for his firstborn son due May 27th. He hopes to be a frontrunner for “World’s Best Dad” in 2020.
Feras Khagani
Having an interest in drawing ever since he picked up a book about how to draw Marvel Superheroes, Feras has continued to practice illustration well into his adult life. He loves to spend his time exploring art, books, movies, games, and YouTube essays. He’s both excited and grateful to contribute to a project aimed at helping others in need, and prays that everyone stays safe! He also wants to thank the brave medical experts and essential workers that are keeping our society going in this pandemic. His work can be found under his name on Instagram.
Ishmam Ahmed
Ishmam is an illustrator, engineer, and writer based in Minneapolis, MN. He got his start as a kid who got in trouble for doodling in the middle of science class. He’s now well-known for his power portraits and digital paintings on ishmam.deviantart.com and recently fulfilled his long-time dream of illustrating for a children’s book. When he’s not hammering out his next creative project, which can eventually be found on ishmam.com, he’s reading novels in his hammock, biking around the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, or cooking up a curry.
Axel Schmidt
Axel is an illustrator based out of the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, WA. During the COVID-19 lockdown, a random connection was made through an unlikely forum that presented the opportunity to participate in this project. While never his goal nor intention for his art, many people who viewed his work often commented that he should do illustrations for children’s books. So he made the jump to the realm where many people felt his talents should already be. By day, he is a Project Manager in the renewable energy world and when not working or illustrating, he can often be found biking, hiking or camping in the great PNW trails and mountains. His work can be seen at: www.adsillustrations.com
Darren Geers
Mike Shaposhnikov
Mike Is an illustrator and character designer based in Moscow, Russia.
He is bringing his vision of a fantasy world to life through game, children's book or animation projects, and creating original character designs in free time.
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Enter for a chance to win a copy of Grow Through It! by Jay Dee and a group of six illustrators!
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
A paperback copy of Grow Through It!
A $50 donation will be made in the winner’s name to UNICEF for COVID-19 relief efforts.
Nine (9) winners receive:
A paperback copy of Grow Through It!
Giveaway begins May 25, 2020, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends June 25, 2020, at 11:59 P.M. MT.
to access the tour page and ENTER TO WIN!
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Special thanks to
The Children's Book Review for the chance to bring this tour to you! (THANKS!) For more information on this author, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links above. Be sure to check out the
rest of the tour for more bookish fun!
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
