HI guys!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're teaming op with The Children's Book Review as we shine the BOOK SPOTLIGHT on a Picture Book that aims to remind readers of all ages that the best thing in the world, the brightest way you can portray yourself is to let YOU BE YOU. Don't let anyone else dim your glow, cast a shadow on your individuality, or rain on your parade. The uniqueness that is you is AMAZING, something to be celebrated, and Zinnia seems like just the gal to make that abundantly clear. So, let's get the introductions under way and then KEEP READING as we share a SPECIAL GUEST POST from the author herself!
Anything But Pink
by
J.C. Benthin
Illustrated by
Andy Catling
9781733990028
Kaleidoscope Volcano
About the book...
Zinnia is the only pink person in a very gold world. After being told that pink stinks by a golden bully, she goes on a quest to get rid of her pink for good. Along the way, Zinnia learns a valuable lesson. Will she embrace her unique pink, or will she change to be just like everyone else?
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~~~ GUEST POST ~~~
Why Teaching Kids to Embrace Themselves Is Important
by J.C. Benthin
I will never forget my daughter’s first day of kindergarten. She had this cute new outfit, fresh backpack, and unstained lunch box. Both of us were super excited as I drove her to school. We made up a song about how great the day was going to be. Fast forward to the end of the day, I could not wait to hear about her day. She got in the car, and I asked her how her day was? She responded with big tears rolling down her cheeks. “Mom, my classmate said that I’m not beautiful.”
One small child’s comment sent both of us reeling. The mama bear in me went straight to seeing red. I will not express to you all the thoughts that I had in the moment but suffice it to say I wanted to slam on my brakes, turn the car around, park and go find that child to let them know that my daughter was more than beautiful.
Can anyone tell me who wrote the book on how to prepare your child for the warzone of the playground? I would’ve bought a copy and read it a thousand times. I would’ve given copies at baby showers and said, “Trust me, you will need this one day.” I would’ve made sure that when another child was flippantly cruel, my daughter would’ve been ready for it.
If I had a do-over for that day. My recommendation to my yesterday mom-self would have been to tell my daughter, “Be confident in who you are. There could be a chance that some kid will say something not nice to you. Don’t let that unkind person tell you who you are. In that moment, you have a choice either to accept the feedback as truth or say a big fat NO THANK YOU. Go with the NO THANK YOU and play with someone else.”
The old adage, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is a lie. Words can hurt. Part of helping our children embrace themselves is understanding that mean words are an opinion not the truth, and that usually, when people say something mean they are hurting and feel bad themselves.
It's important for children to embrace who they are because of the many external opinions that can shade their perspective and impact their self-esteem. We need to instill in our children that they are valuable, that they matter and that they can be confident in who they are regardless of other’s opinions.
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About the author...
J.C. Benthin has been writing since a young age winning a Father’s Day essay contest with the Kansas City Star justifying “Why my Dad’s the Best Outdoorsman” which won a John Deere Lawnmower and a Weber Grill. She has written Timmy the Time Machine, Pink Princess, and Anything but a Prince for a next-generation interactive children’s publisher. She has also written two young adult novels titled Catapult and Slingshot in The Kingston Chronicles Series. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She resides in Berkeley, California.
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Enter for a chance to win an autographed copy of Anything But Pink and a Pink is Unique tote!
One (1) winner receives:
An autographed copy of Anything But Pink
A 'Pink is Unique' tote
Two (2) winners receive:
An autographed copy of Anything But Pink
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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 the guest post. (THANKS!) 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
Monday, May 9, 2022
Book Tour Kick-Off
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
book review of Anything But Pink
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
An interview with J.C. Benthin
Thursday, May 12, 2022
A book review of Anything But Pink
Friday, May 13, 2022
A book giveaway of Anything But Pink
Monday, May 16, 2022
A book review of Anything But Pink
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
A book review of Anything But Pink
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
A book giveaway of Anything But Pink
Thursday, May 19, 2022
A book review of Anything But Pink
Friday, May 20, 2022
An article by author J.C. Benthin
Monday, May 23, 2022
A book review of Anything But Pink
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
A book activity for Anything But Pink
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
An interview with J.C. Benthin
Thursday, May 26, 2022
A book review of Anything But Pink
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
