Genre: Artistic Adaptations &/or Picture Books

Blog Book Tour | “The Little Girl and Her Shadow” (#picturebook) by O.K. Reade and illustrated by Alexa Terry Hanson

Posted Tuesday, 16 June, 2015 by jorielov (Illustrator) Alexa Terry Hanson, Cedar Fort Inc, O.K. Reade, Sweetwater Books, The Little Girl and Her Shadow 0 Comments

Acquired Book By: I am a regular tour hostess for blog tours via Cedar Fort whereupon I am thankful to have such a diverse amount of novels and non-fiction titles to choose amongst to host. I received a complimentary copy of “The Little Girl and Her Shadow” direct from the publisher Sweetwater Books (imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc) in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Why I love Picture Books:

Ever since I was a young child, I’ve adored picture books due to the artistry of the illustrators and the stories the writers weave into the illustrations. Visual story-telling was an active part of my childhood, as I loved books for young readers who had full illustrative plates alongside the narrative and dialogue inasmuch as I have had a fond affection for television and motion pictures. To see a story set in motion by art is akin to watching a story come alive on the stage (live theatre) because the story is hinged to how the person who is internalising the story will see how the images and the words come alive for them inside their imagination. Motion pictures do not leave as much of a window of separation between how you interpret the story and how the story is lit alive for you to see it.

Picture books are a hidden gem in the Children’s Lit branch, and even as an adult, I oft-times borrow quite a heap of picture books from my local library. I try not to keep them out too long, as I know the children in the county will want to see them as well, but many times, I am among the first to check them out even as they are released. My local librarians said that parents are not oft to think to seek them out and by checking them out, I’m helping to alert the parents that something is quite keen about the books themselves and they in turn, might take a chance on them for their own children. This is a trend amongst the young adult, juvenile fiction (Middle Grade) and adult titles I regularly check out as well. I’m not sure why I have to be the first or one of the first (in some cases) but if I can help alert a parent or another reader to the blessing these books are bringing to all of us (young or old), than I do get a bit of joy in knowing I’m helping the greater good.

Picture books of the 2000s have a bit of a leg- up on the picture books of the late 1970s through the 1990s, in that there is a lot more of them releasing per year, verse how you had only a small fraction of what is available today back then. I believe this is in part due to the popularity of illustrated stories and a true love for illustration as an art form as a whole. Whichever reason gave this branch of literature a Renaissance, I’m celebrating it because I find the most thought-provoking stories are not always inside of a novel, they’re contained inside a picture book!

It’s a goal of mine to feature more Children’s Lit on Jorie Loves A Story, and part of that showcase will be picture books, because I want to seek out and highlight the writers who are bringing life lessons and beautiful coming-of age stories to the illustrated stories section of a bookshelf!

The Little Girl and Her Shadow
by O.K. Reade
Illustrator/Cover Designer: Alexa Terry Hanson
Source: Direct from Publisher

In a tiny town, in a quiet place,

Lived a little girl with an angry face...

She hated her school. She hated her friends.

She hated the rules. And in the end,

All she was able to let anyone see,

Was her decision to live miserably.

When a grumpy little girl refuses to change her ways, her shadow decides to run away! Soon the little girl is off on an adventure to win back her shadow, find out why it left, and perhaps learn to appreciate all the things she already has.

Filled with fun illustrations and rhyming text, this is a book kids will love. With an intriguing storyline, it's perfect for the whole family.

Genres: Children's Literature, Artistic Adaptations &/or Picture Books

Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

Published by Sweetwater Books

on 14th April, 2015

Format: Hardcover Edition

Pages: 32

Published By: Sweetwater Books (@SweetwaterBooks),
an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc (@CedarFortBooks)

Available Formats: Hardback, Paperback, Ebook

Converse via: #picturebook, #KidsLit

About Alexa Terry Hanson

Alexa Terry Hanson is a true-blue California girl born in 1990 in Chico, California. She was raised in Huntington Beach, California, where she attended Huntington Beach Union High School and graduated in 2008. She discovered her talents at a young age, and as the years went by, her skills continued to develop. After high school, she attended Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, as well as Brigham Young University’s Salt Lake City, Utah, campus. After a few years of college, she returned home and fell in love with her husband. They currently live in California, where she has had many experiences and opportunities as a freelance artist with companies such as TOMS Shoes and Disney Television Animation Studios. Every day she continues to create new characters and new worlds using her artistic talents, and she could not be happier.

Sketchbook on Instagram

Blog

About O.K. Reade

O. K. Reade lives in New York City with his son. He is a mathematics teacher by day and a writer/cartoonist by night.

Posted Tuesday, 16 June, 2015 by jorielov in Blog Tour Host, Cedar Fort Publishing & Media, Debut Author, Debut Novel, Equality In Literature, Indie Author

Blog Book Tour | “The Olive Tree” {an artistic adaptation} by Christine Layton Graham, Carol Layton Ogden and Joan Layton Merrell

Posted Saturday, 4 April, 2015 by jorielov Carol Layton Ogden, Cedar Fort Inc, CFI (imprint) Cedar Fort Inc, Christine Layton Graham, Joan Layton Merrell, The Olive Tree 2 Comments

Acquired Book By: I am a regular tour hostess for blog tours via Cedar Fort whereupon I am thankful to have such a diverse amount of novels and non-fiction titles to choose amongst to host. I received a complimentary copy of “The Olive Tree: An Artistic Adaptation” direct from the publisher CFI (imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc) in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Inspired to Read | my original note to join the blog tour:

I grew up with the parable of The Olive Tree, even though I never attended an LDS church — the Olive Tree has always held a special significance for me & my family. I believe the interpretations and the stories differ a bit from each other but at the heart of both, I believe is the same core. I’d love to host this beautiful book and talk about my own faith history with the story of the Olive Tree and intersect with where it aligns with the LDS side of it. It would be a beautiful interfaith post because one of my favourite e-cards on Jacquie Lawson I send to my friends is The Olive Tree with a white dove who ascends at the end into the fullness of Light. (the card mentioned is found on this page and you can preview it)

I had intended to expand on this post to clarify how I grew up knowing about the olive tree parable and the messages behind the references to the olive tree throughout the Bible; however, time and memory are not quite as forthcoming as I first thought! I do remember how much I appreciated listening to stories about the olive tree and how symbolic the tree was to understand our place in the world and the greater scope of life on earth as much as in heaven.

There are certain stories you learn as you grow up in a faith-centered family which become such a strong part of your inner fabric and path, you sometimes find the connecting story to be lost to time itself. I happily reflect on the joy of knowing of the olive tree, but as far as where my studies of knowledge lie and where I learnt the most of this parable, I am unable to stipulate specifics. I have attended a wide range of Protestant churches in my lifetime, and thus, somewhere along that corridor I met with pastors who have shared snippets and back-stories about the purpose of the olive tree. This in of itself is remarkable, because I found listening to this particular parable to be quite soothing, uplifting, and inspiring.

Whether your coming into this book through an LDS background or another religious background (such as I am), the truth within the passages themselves cannot be denied. This is where universal truth and the light of God shine through our differences and embrace us in the warmth of the story’s message. For this reason, I’ve started to select certain non-fiction releases through Cedar Fort to open up an exchange of conversation across interfaith connections.

The Olive Tree

Nurture your connection with Heaven as you examine the olive tree parable more closely. This unique book will enhance your spiritual understanding with a one-of-a-kind experience that takes you beyond the story.

Through artwork, adapted text, and hand-worked calligraphy, you'll see each symbol as you never have before and feel the Savior's love each time He cares for His trees.

The branches, the fruit, the servants, the graftings - each stands in place of something with larger meaning. The story of the Olive Tree isn't just a parable. It's the story of humanity.

Savor a unique scriptural experience with this beautiful book that combines text adapted from Jacob 5 with stunning artwork and calligraphy. A gorgeous addition to any faith-centered home, it will enhance your understanding of the exquisite symbolism in this significant story. Adapted from Zenos's allegory as quoted by Jacob in the Book of Mormon.

Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

on 10th March, 2015

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 36

Published By: CFI (imprint) of Cedar Fort Inc (@CedarFortBooks),

an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc (@CedarFortBooks)
Available Formats: Paperback, Ebook

Converse on Twitter via: #TheOliveTree, #Jacob5, #BookOfMorman, & #LDSFaith

as well as the following: #bookillustrations & #picturebooks

About Christine Layton Graham Carol Layton Ogden and Joan Layton Merrell

Christine Layton Graham is a writer, an editor, and a college English instructor living in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her books include When Pioneer Wagons Rumbled West, Three Little Robbers, and Peter Peter Picks a Pumpkin House. She also has had literary pieces published in the New Era and the Friend.

Carol Layton Ogden is an artist living in Springville, Utah. She studied design at BYU and in recent years has studied under a variety of artists, including Ann Kullberg and J. Kirk Richards.

Joan Layton Merrell is a professional calligrapher and fiber artist living in Jefferson City, Missouri. She teaches on the national level, and her calligraphic art has been published in Letters Arts Review and The Calligrapher's Engagement Calendar.

Read the story of how this beautiful book came to be by the authors.

Christine Layton Graham's Website
Joan Layton Merrell's Calligraphy Site
The Layton Sisters' Contact Info:

Website | Facebook

Posted Saturday, 4 April, 2015 by jorielov in #JorieLovesIndies, Ancient Civilisation, Art, Balance of Faith whilst Living, Biblical History, Blog Tour Host, Calligraphy, Cedar Fort Publishing & Media, Children's Literature, Christianity, Creative Arts, Debut Author, Debut Novel, Historical Perspectives, History, Illustration for Books & Publishing, Illustrations for Stories, Important Figures of Ancient Times, Indie Art, Indie Author, Indie Book Trade, Inspirational Fiction & Non-Fiction, Inspired by Stories, Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards, Juvenile Fiction, Lessons from Scripture, Literature for Boys, Mormonism, Naturalist Sketchings, Non-Fiction, Re-Told Tales, Religious History, Short Stories or Essays, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, World Religions

Whispers of Thoughts and Memories,… captured in time by way of a photographical legacy…

Posted Saturday, 4 May, 2013 by jorielov A Moment in Time, Jennifer Butenas, The Perfect Moment LLC 0 Comments

A Moment in Time by Jennifer Butenas

Acquired Book By: Winning a contest adverted through “Shelf Awareness for Readers” bi-weekly newsletter, December 2012. I received the book direct from the author/publisher {The Perfect Moment, LLC} without obligation to post a review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts herein.

“A Moment in Time” Book Trailer by Jennifer Butenas
{writer, publisher, promoter}

Inspired to Share: What an ingenious way to introduce someone to the creativity inside of a picture book, than to produce a book trailer to make its arrival that more special! What I adored about the trailer is that it captures the very heart of the story!! Press play, you’ll be thankful you did!

My original lamentations about the premise:

I could not agree with you more! My father’s job runs on a 24/7 clock, and its due to my Mum’s insightful fortitude to carve out niches of family time amongst the chaos of his job that became the excitement and joy of my childhood! You see, it wasn’t simply going out for dinner or catching an evening movie, it was somehow more than all of that combined. My family’s greatest joys of memories are the times where we spontaneously walked out the door or met up with each other… trying something new for the first time, meeting up with my grandparents, or engaging in conversations we weren’t expecting to have that day. Little road trips on the weekends (now infamously called ‘one tankers!’), or little discoveries in neighbouring townes, or walking down a boardwalk,… all of it was in an attempt not only to be together as a family but to encourage and there by inspire me to appreciate the art of everyday discoveries.

Life is a brilliant journey, and I happen to adore photography, as one way my parents encouraged me to ‘log’ my experiences (as experience itself was always pertinent to them to give me) was to always have a camera in hand and at the ready!

What wonderful whispers of thoughts and memories your little blurb erupted inside me! Everything that I want to pass on to my own future children, and give them the playful, whimsical, humourous, joy-filled childhood that I had! A family can endure loads, but its the core of their bond and connection that lasts long after the bursts of delightful memories!

I must confess, I am a

After reading the story, I walked away with a sense of: rhymatically pleasing rhyme! Ms. Butenas has a clever way with igniting words with a musical note as they ease off your tongue and into the air, they float and drift and swirl around you injecting you straight into the story of a family enjoying the fresh air! There is an older brother walking with the tunes in his head, his younger sibling completely unaffected by time and only wants to sip his soda pop, whilst their father takes the time to catch a few flies, and the mother notices how perfectly sublime her family truly is! She fetches her camera and snaps the shot! Why alter the photograph when their individually enjoying their time!?

Mindfulness is etched into the heart of this delightful story, full of colourful illustrations that dance alive in your eyes! Children will vie for storytime to arrive! I always struggled to get the tone and the pulse on reading aloud, but if I were to find more picture books such as this, I simply might have found the key to unlock the mystery!

Don’t delay one instant, find a copy of this uplifting book to set yourself straight on a course of spontaneous joy! Capture what you can by camera in hand and smile knowing your one of the lucky ones who takes a pause out of the rush of the days to appreciate the essence of being alive!

A Moment in Time
by Jennifer Butenas
Illustrator/Cover Designer: Charlotte Cheng
Source: Direct from Publisher

Genres: Artistic Adaptations &/or Picture Books, Children's Literature

Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

Published by The Perfect Moment LLC

on 1st January, 2012

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 40

{SOURCES: The book trailer by Jennifer Butenas had either URL share links or coding which made it possible to embed this media portals to this post, and I thank her for this opportunity to share more about this picture book and the author who penned it. A selection of buttons, dividers, and blog decorative freebies were chosen from the Shabby Blogs blog OR from Shabby Blogs website; such as the button that says Pathological Picture Taker.}

Posted Saturday, 4 May, 2013 by jorielov in Book Trailer, Children's Literature, Indie Author, Photography, Picture Book