News & Messages
 More news! August 2010:
The California State Fair was fun again this year. My first turn in the Author's Booth was on a meltingly hot day in July. The second shift, later that month, was during perfect weather, making the trek from the parking lot pleasant. People stopped by our bookstore-like display throughout the day. It was fun to meet people and to see children enjoying my books. I especially liked a teenager's teeshirt featuring an open book with the words: As soon as I finish this chapter.
The Folsom Public Library's Author Fair in April was a lot of fun with a lot of books sold and a lot conversations with interesting people. I only had five minutes to talk, but it was exactly the right amount of time.
I'm looking forward to the Folsom Public Library's Local Author Appreciation Fair on April 10 at 411 Stafford Street in Folsom. I'll be speaking very briefly, taking part on a panel and signing books. Th event begins at 1 p.m. Everyone in the Sacramento area on that date is invited to stop by!
I've now sold four board books to Unibooks in Korea. In addition to I LOVE MUSIC, and IT'S RAINING, Unibooks will publish WHERE'S MY SOCK (on matching patterns) and DINNER TIME (on table manners). These very, very short books are challenging and fun to do. They're scheduled for release in Korea in September 2011.
Even more exciting news! Candlewick is going to publish my sequel to Bears on Chairs. Currently titled Bears in Beds, this one is a bedtime book. David Walker will again create the illustrations. It takes time for a book to come together, so we won't see it on the shelves for awhile. But it's wonderful to know the sequel is on its way. Reviews for Bears on Chairs have been terrific. A lot of bloggers have raved about it on their sites, two of them calling it a "soon-to-be classic." Let's hope so!
Also new! A publisher in Japan has purchased translation rights to Bears on Chairs. I'm eager to see a copy when it's published. I can't imagine how they will translate rhyme, but my daughter-in-law Miwa is from Japan and will be able to read a copy to me when it comes out.
Fun News!
I've just learned the two very simple board books I've been working on with an editor at Unibooks in Korea have sold and will be published in that country. The books are IT'S RAINING and I LOVE MUSIC! These are for the toddler program for two and three year olds learning English (and written in English), so they are very simple. Since the publisher believes in books as toys to encourage a love for learning and reading, I'm looking forward to moveable bits of art-work such as tab pulls, pop-ups and fold-overs. Of course, art takes time. The books won't be ready quickly.
Exciting News: Candlewick Press will release ONE FROG SANG in trade paperback next March. I'm looking forward to my frogs making another spring leap into print!
BEARS AND CHAIRS is still winning great reviews. A reviewer for LittleOneLit.com has me smiling. She not only lumped the book in with GOODNIGHT, MOON and PAT THE BUNNY, but called BEARS ON CHAIRS "a soon-to-be-classic sure to work its way into your nightly rotation." May those words fly from her lips to readers' hearts!
A reviewer who is also a primary school teacher commented that she would look for little bears to act out the story for her class on the first day of school. How I'd love to be a fly on that wall!
Recently, a reviewer commented that BEARS ON CHAIRS speaks to tolerance as well as friendship and sharing because Big Brown Bear is "different" (bigger) than the other four bears.
The first review came from Kirkus. Among other things, the reviewer says, "While the bears' solution is hardly rocket science, their cooperative approach will appear revolutionary to the book's target audience. Between the unerringly positive approach to a common early-childhood dilemma and the can't-miss-rhyme, this volume will likely find its place on many a daycare shelf."
School Library Journal reviewed the book in September, saying, "Parenteau's brief rhythmic text is bouncy and light, and ideal for reading aloud. Themes of sharing and compassion are introduced in developmentally appropriate, subtle ways, and the bears' discovery of their own resolution is a refreshing conclusion to the story."
BEARS was reviewed by Publisher's Weekly on July 20. In describing the "cuddly, optimistic bruins" with a problem, the reviewer says "Parenteau's rhyming text is simple enough for a preschool audience, and the lesson the bears model about sharing will be welcomed by many teachers and parents."
Powell's Book Store in Portland, Oregon, concludes, "The infectious rhymes and easy charm of this winsome read-aloud are sure to make little ones stand up and take notice."
The Cincinnati Public Library finishes a brief review with the words, "Silly fun for little ones ages 2-5."
ONE FROG SANG was featured in Scholastic's April '08 Honeybee class catalog. Scholastic also put the book out on audio. It's such fun to hear the book read aloud, with all the various frog sounds and a chime to tell the child reader when to turn the page.
ONE FROG SANG released by Candlewick Press in March, 07 received terrific reviews. A children's librarian blogging at Storytime Staples posted, "One of my new favorites, this picture book works well in a counting storytime theme or it may be used to emphasize phonological awareness in an animal storytime theme...perfect for an interactive storytime adventure with preschoolers."
Here are comments from Kirkus: “Children will love making the range of frog sounds presented in this entertaining counting story…Lyrical language is really the icing on the cake of this successful offering.”
And from School Library Journal: “Lively, poetic text invites reading aloud. Verbs are particularly well chosen; the frogs crouch, huddle and ka-plop. Children will enjoy finding and counting the creatures on each page.”
The San Francisco Chronicle called ONE FROG SANG, "A good story for frog-filled summer nights." The reviewer especially liked the eight bullfrogs under the bridge who boomed: Woomp, Woomp. Those were my favorites, too. I listened for awhile to bullfrogs under our bridge, trying to hear their call phonetically.
And I love this comment on the book from another reviewer: "A veritable swamp-phony."
I want to add a big thanks to my Candlewick editor Sarah Ketchersid for her work on both these books. Sarah draws me back when I want to send my story characters in too many directions, always reminding me that simplicity is best.
Date: 7/30/2009
Name: Peggy
Comments: I love this website!
Date: 8/6/2009
Name: Ardith Brockett
Comments: Shirley,
I love it, the colors and wording every little animal that moves it is all great
CONGRATULATIONS
Ardith
Date: 8/21/2009
Name: Cherie
Comments: Love your books! Keep them coming. :)
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