DBR Blog interview with ten year old author Jeremy Gordon

DBR Books Blog chats with ten year old Jeremy Gordon, author of The Boy Who Loves Rules!

1.  Are you a first time writer?

Yes

2.  You are the youngest writer we have ever interviewed! How does that make you feel?

It makes me feel good because I get to show my feelings to the entire world. I feel good also to know that I am the youngest writer you ever interviewed. I am proud that I started writing when I am young.

3.  What do you like about writing? Did you have fun writing this book?

 I like the chance to express my feelings. I had a lot of fun writing this book.

4.  Tell me a little about The Boy Who Loves Rules!

It is about a boy who loves rules and tries to keep them so that in life he will not get in trouble. He sometimes fails to keep the rules but he gets up and tries again.

5.  What did you learn from writing this story?

I learned that you should follow the rules and try to do the right things, because there are consequences in life when we break the rules.

6.  What do you want other kids and their parents to learn from your story?

I want other kids to learn that you should try to be good. I want their parents to know that it doesn't matter if you are old or young. What matters is you still have to try to do good. We have to try to do the right things because there will be consequences when we do not.  When you do the right things good things usually happen.

7.  What happens if you do the right things and bad things happen?

If you do the right things and bad things happen you should always get back up and try again.

8.  Are you going to write more stories?

I will write more stories so that I can reach out to others and share positive thoughts with them.

Book Review | Ordinary Dogs, Extraordinary Friendships by Pam Flowers

Pam Flowers, a Society of Women Geographers’ gold medalist recipient, a dog-sled musher, an arctic explorer and an Appalachian trailer, is also the author of Ordinary Dogs, Extraordinary Friendships - a book of short stories about her team of dogs demonstrating loyalty, courage, and compassion.

Ordinary Dogs, Extraordinary Friendships is appropriately written for kids’ ages 8 to 12 years, and they will appreciate this great read because there’s a lot to be learned from the loyalty and friendship displayed here. Readers are taken into the world of arctic dog-sledding expeditions and hiking on the Appalachian Trail, and one can appreciate the down-to-earth way in which Flowers recounts her amazing adventures with her amazing team. Adventures of true courage and fidelity are highlighted in one story after another as Flowers show how they come to depend on each other in the harsh arctic environment, and the strong bonds and teamwork that exist between her and the dogs, and among the canine themselves. The reader can appreciate too the respectful way in which Flowers observes her dogs and is able to read their thoughts through body language and behavior, clearly showing the mutual bond of respect and loyalty between them.  Nothing speaks loyalty more clearly than when you take a stand for someone against a bully! We see this in the story “The Bully”, in which Flower’s dog Amy stood her ground and overcame a bully dog just by standing up (without violence) and refusing to be intimidated. Readers can be inspired by Amy’s example, and we too can take our stand for others against bullying.

There are other heart-stopping, cliff-hanging, adventurous stories in the book which will truly have your kids turning the pages to see what happens next! The story of a polar bear raiding the camp as Pam, Kate, and their team of dogs camped in the arctic region is truly a frightening yet hilarious one! In this story, Flowers provided a refreshing and profound insight to how some dogs ‘handle’ crises. However, what stood out most in the story is that we can learn much from our domesticated pets, sometimes taking the cue from them in frightening situations. Flowers followed the examples of her dogs and remained calm in what could have been a harrowing moment; but as a result of their example, the incident took on a hilarious turn and the author can now look back with humor at the day the curious polar bear visited their camp!

Ordinary Dogs, Extraordinary Friendships is informative, insightful, and refreshing; captivating readers into a world of fierce loyalty, heartfelt sharing and compassion, extraordinary friendships, and an exciting new understanding of our canine friends!

Follow Pam Flowers on new expeditions and adventures, meet her team, and view other books she has authored on her website!

Happy Reading!

Love Unhinged now available! New Release!

Love Unhinged is a collection of short romantic stories.  Now available!

Excerpt from The Woman on the Bus:
"Later, she found him in his office in the English Department, knocked on the door and went in. She flung the roll of money in his face, and stormed out of the office, slamming the door with such force, the wall vibrated and the frames of the photos on it rattled."

Excerpt from  A Matter of Pronunciation:
"My fourteen year old cousin, Luanna, was crying at her wedding, just hours before the ceremony began. 
She jumped when I entered the room. Her veil was removed, and tears smeared her makeup. When she saw me, she pulled me inside the room and made me promise, that I’d never tell her parents or mine what I had seen. I soaked her handkerchief in a basin of water nearby, and wiped her tear stained face."

Now available in print and ebook versions!

Book Review | Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo’s Mission to Pluto by Oneeka Williams M.D.

When Pluto was down-sized to a dwarf planet, Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo, her assistant (Kyle the Kaola), her medical team of surgical instruments, and Lukas (her cousin and friend) made it their mission to save the little planet.

This controversial topic has been the subject of many debates of professionals in the scientific world and many people worldwide.  Children have also taken up the debate in schools and many have wondered why Pluto is no longer a planet. Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo’s Mission to Pluto by Harvard graduate in medicine Oneeka Williams, answers several questions on the subject matter.  The book is appropriately written for kids ages 4 to 7, breaking down important science facts so kids can understand.

Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo and her team jets away to Pluto in Freeda the flying ambulance, the same way ‘The Magic School Bus’ whisks the class off to the next big adventure! While it’s an adventure, the story encourages kids to care about their world and even the solar system in which they live. We should care enough to be involved in righting the wrongs, fixing the problems, and to take a stand for our environment and our world.

 

Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo’s Mission to Pluto is a great read-aloud book for story-time hour in pre-k to grade 1 classes. It’s a good discussion book for teachers who want to introduce the subject of Pluto and what happened to the planet. To really get a full understanding of Pluto’s plight, teachers can let their students ‘act out’ the parts in a school play.

The story ends in a surprising way. One might expect that Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo’s solution for Pluto is the best, but surprisingly the book calls the reader’s attention to positive attitude and puts into perspective that sometimes our circumstance is not what matters but happiness and contentment with one’s life are more important.

Illustrations by Valerie Bouthyette are kid-friendly, bright, colorful, and work well with the story - depicting key scenes and setting an educational mood yet successfully capturing the fun. Refreshing, fun, motivational, and imaginative - Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo’s Mission to Pluto is a must-read!

We look forward to Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo’s next great mission!

Follow author Oneeka Williams MD on her Facebook page and website for more adventures with Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo and her team!

Happy Reading!

Interview with author Julia Dweck

1.  Tell me a little about Mary had a Sleep Sheep.

Mary had a Sleepy Sheep is based on the original nursery rhyme, but with a twist. In this modern day version, Mary has a very sleepy sheep named Sheppard. Mary tries all different kinds of increasingly outlandish ways to wake her sleepy sheep. The story is filled with humor and an underlying message about the importance of persistence. Sadly, the illustrator, Wilson Williams, Jr., passed away unexpectedly right before the book was released. He was incredibly talented and packed the book full of fun games for young readers. My favorite activity is finding Whiskers the mouse, hidden in every illustration of the book.  

2.  It could have been any nursery rhyme, why Mary?

 I can’t really give you an exact reason why. It’s just something that drifted into my mind and made me chuckle. One day, I suddenly thought to myself, “Mary had a little lamb his name was Sheppard sheep. And everywhere that Mary went that lamb was sure to sleep.” Once I got this idea in my mind I just couldn’t shake it until I got it down on paper.

3.  You’re not a first time author and your latest book Blucy: The Blue Cat has made its debut. Congratulations! What is the book about?

Mandy is another determined pet owner, like Mary. She has a most unusual cat named Blucy who turns different shades of blue depending on the emotion she’s feeling. Mandy’s off on a wild goose chase when Blucy refuses to eat anything that Mandy serves her to eat.  Blucy is a clever cat that uses her skills of camouflage to hide in the most unusual places. Erika LeBarre is the amazing illustrator who created truly masterful pastel illustrations that will delight and amuse young readers.

4.  Why do you write for children?  What do you want children to garnish from your books?

I love the imagination and humor of young children. I am also a gifted elementary specialist and mother, so I try to create value added in my books by instilling a subtle message and fun activities that extend the learning through literacy. My goal is to create life long readers and writers, who love stories as much as I do.  

5.  What’s next? Are you working on anything in particular?

I am working on a chapter book for early readers that I’m eager to share with my picture book readers who are ready for the next level in reading. This is something I’ve never undertaken before, so in some ways, I’m growing up alongside my readers!

Follow Julia Dweck on her Facebook, and view our book review of Mary had a Sleepy Sheep here!