Happy Monday, let's do a GIVEAWAY!
Win a digital copy of Jane Smith's upcoming title and some books about kindness
Hey friendly readers! I’ve never done a giveaway before so you are the lucky guinea pigs in this wild whirling ride of chaos we call life. Hang on tight. Ignore the malicious laughter. Here we go!!!
A few weeks ago
of the substack and award-winning author-illustrator asked if my family and I wanted to peek at her upcoming kids’ book, Teddy’s Bear Takes a Tumble, about a sweet multi-generational bear family and the mishap that befalls Teddy Bear on a fast-flying biking adventure. (The book is gonna drop May 14th, so get ready!!)Our answer was an enthusiastic YES!
TEDDY’S BEAR TAKES A TUMBLE by Jane Smith
Teddy takes such great care of his very special Teddy Bear, which is easy to do because he learned how from his own very caring dad. One day, Teddy, his dad, and Teddy Bear take a super fast bike ride when disaster strikes, and Teddy and his bear take a terrible tumble. Dad patches up Teddy and makes everything better, but can Teddy patch up Bear? And if his patches won’t hold, who can help?
A sweet tale that celebrates multi-generational love and the bond between father and son, and grandfather and father, teaching kids that taking good care of one another takes a village. I love seeing connection and kindness displayed through acts of love. Teddy’s Bear Takes a Tumble also teaches children (and adults) that different people have different strengths and skills to offer if one isn’t too proud to ask for help.
We love a story that celebrates fathers, and this book takes it one step further to give a special nod to grandfathers, which is a fun way to open up a conversation with my kids about our own family.
TO ENTER the giveaway and win a digital copy of Teddy’s Bear Takes A Tumble interact with the post by LIKING, COMMENTING, or RESTACKING it and I will throw your name into the hat.
MEET SUPER JANE
I asked
to answer a few emailed questions about creating this book and about reading and writing kids books. I love what she has to say about books instilling confidence for life!LIBRARY STAX: Tell me a bit about what inspired Teddy's Bear!
JANE: Teddy’s Bear Takes a Tumble is centered on the idea that passing kindness down through familial generations matters deeply. I did not grow up being close with my dad, but as a parent, the rough spots from my own childhood have been soothed by seeing how incredibly close my husband and daughter are. Their relationship—totally two peas in a pod!—very much inspired Teddy’s Bear. I also drew inspiration from all the little boys I’ve known in my life who are rough-and-tumble, energetic, and can’t sit still. So often stories that highlight kiddos imitating caretaking of stuffies or pets, show main characters with naturally quiet, gentle personalities. I wanted to show that even a little guy who is go-go-go can be sensitive and loving, especially against the backdrop of a dad and grandpa with traditional masculine interests who also demonstrate sensitivity, kindness, and love.
LIBRARY STAX: What do you believe is the superpower that reading provides for young readers?
JANE: Reading provides the superpower of problem-solving!! There is a book for every need, whether it be practical, informational, emotional, or social. Reading unlocks the answers to everything from how to get through the first day of preschool to how to build a tree house to how to make a pecan pie. In this way, books are the ultimate, always-at-the-ready tool for aiding young readers in confidently navigating the world around them.
LIBRARY STAX: What is your favorite way to pass your time?
JANE: I love writing, drawing, and reading! Of course—ha ha! My favorite genres to read aside from kidlit are mysteries, magical realism, cookbooks, and the original Nancy Drew books. I also enjoy a lot of other fun things too: walking, playing chess, yoga, meditation, baking, trying new recipes, going to art museums, collecting shells, watching cartoons, playing Dungeons & Dragons with my family, and now that it’s springtime, I’m excited to go berry picking at the farm just down the road from my house! Yum!
Thanks,
, for taking a moment to answer my questions and for being such a delight.Preorder Teddy’s Bear Takes a Tumble using the links below!
Amazon :: Barnes & Noble :: LibraryStax Bookshop
AND! Jane has included fun activity kits and bookplate stickers for those of you who are looking for ways to keep your littles entertained (me!)
Activity Kit: rb.gy/lks7ev
Free Signed Bookplate Sticker Request: rb.gy/f147bi
To win an e-book copy of this delightful tale of multi-generational love and caring, simply interact with this newsletter with a HEART, a RESTACK, or a COMMENT (It might be wise to also DM me just in case)
I’ll enter your name in the giveaway and announce the winner next week. Exciting! I hope you win.
Reading Teddy’s Bear Takes a Tumble inspired me to search my Library Stax backlog for books that feature great examples of generational kindness, but I found that we really didn’t have any! Is the message that rare? Do I avoid these titles on accident? Do you have great examples of generational kindness at your library?
This weeks roundup are books that have to do with kindness. This week we played with friends a lot and it can be hard to be confident and kind. Reading books that show good examples of extending kindness helps prepare my kids for making those great decisions in the world at large.
Chatting with a friend about watching kids interact and have big feelings, she said a common refrain at her house is “It is OK to be mad, it is not OK to be mean.” Any other refrains you find yourself using to navigate the big feelings that arise when your kids are thrown into navigating the social world?
FROM THE STAX
KNIGHT OWL By Christopher Denise
Owl has always dreamed of being a knight, so when the castle sends out a call for knights in training he applies and much to everyone’s surprise, gets accepted. He is assigned to the Knight Night Watch (OMG how clever and cute is that?) and when a dragon comes to eat him, he has to use what skills he has to find a clever solution to a very menacing problem.
Get this book! It is adorable and sweet, funny and lovable. It teaches kids how to problem solve in scary situations by looking for solutions that meet everybody’s needs and it has the powerful message that if you look for commanalities you may find that the person (or experience) you are scared of is a potential friend (or favorite) in the making.
PIRATE VIKING & SCIENTIST by Jared Chapman
Pirate is friends with Scientist. Viking is friends with Scientist. But Pirate and Viking? NOT FRIENDS. When they are all invited to Scientist’s birthday it causes quite a bit of drama because Pirate and Viking just can’t get along. Will they ruin Scientist’s party?
Ever bring your kid to playdate at the park only to discover their friend has another friend there? This is a situation that can always bring about big big feelings, I know from personal experience. This book helps navigate how to find solutions when you have more than one friend who wants to play. A handy message in a fun package, your kids will also learn about the scientific method!
PLUS ONE by John Hare
Agnes is new in town and decides to invite classmates to her house for a fancy tea party in order to make some new friends. Her excitement quickly shifts to trepidation when she gets the first knock on her door and instead of one of the invited kids, it is the kid who seems a little bit strange from next door. Agnes doesn’t let him in, the invitation says he has to bring a plus one. The neighbor is not deterred but returns again and again with potential plus ones. Will Agnes let him in?
A great book about the initial desire to exclude, with a great big-hearted lesson about how inclusion is the most fun and the biggest win for everybody involved. We love all John Hare’s field trip books so we were extra excited to see how this newest title held up and we are delighted with the humor and heart to be had!
This book was gifted to me by Holiday House Publishing, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
TAKE A BREATH by Sujean Rim
Bob still hasn’t mastered the art of flying and can get a bit in his head about it. Afterall, all the other birds know how to fly. Crow suggests that the key to learning how to fly is to BREATHE. Bob is skeptical at first, but decides to give it a try, because why not?
A great book about letting a friend help you through a tricky situation, we love how crow comes to Bob’s rescue. As an added benefit your kids will learn the power of meditative breathing to help center your body and mind before you try something tricky or hard. And the book is interactive, so we all get to take some deep breaths as we read, which has such a lovely calming effect on everyone involved.
If you know someone who is looking for kid lit recommendations, reader tips, and general weekly parenting thoughts, feel free to pass my substack along. Your support means the world.
Don’t forget to interact with today’s post for your chance to win a digital copy of Teddy’s Bear Takes a Tubmle by
Well this book sounds like a gem! I can’t wait to read it. We also love a book that celebrates kindness. I love that it shows kindness can be passed down from generation to generation in a family and that anyone can be sensitive and caring! Thanks for sharing.
Love this weeks post! I'm now wracking my brain for books that illuminate generational kindness. Will share if I come up with any.