Moms Choice Awards

Bon Voyage: We've MOVED

2011-07-07T09:24:00.000-04:00

httphWith all the fireworks of the past few days, we waited until the smoke cleared to share our news ...

We have TWO new blogs within the umbrella of the Mom's Choice Awards.

Celebrating Mom's Choice is a platform for our honorees. You'll find all of the content from this blog over there and we'll be honing that blog for celebrating, marketing, and supporting our alumni.

Mom's Choice Matters is a NEW community for moms. We'll be sharing news, tips, and ideas to help parents along that every-day journey of being a family.

If you've been following us or subscribed to this blog, you'll want to update your profile.

The Mommy Quiz! - ad

2011-06-25T11:54:00.001-04:00

Proud to be a mommy? Take this quiz and see what you know about taking care of your little ones!

Alumni Spotlight Update: Vanessa Van Petten

2011-06-14T14:30:00.003-04:00

It is hard to believe that it's already been two years since we last spoke with Vanessa Van Petten, author of You're Grounded! In our June 2009 interview, Vanessa shared the reason behind the book: she knew she wasn't the only teen tired of fighting with her parents and she wanted to build bridges for both "sides."

Now that she's had time to nurture them, Vanessa is happy to share some of the "lots of projects" she talked about in June 2009. Please welcome back Vanessa Van Petten.

MCA: Hi Vanessa, we're so glad you've stopped by. First, we'd like to add our own best wishes on the announcement of your engagement! How exciting!
Vanessa: Thank you so much. It is such a fun, crazy time.

MCA: So, besides planning a wedding, what have you been working on since we did our interview last year?
Vanessa: I have a new book coming out with Penguin USA called Do I Get My Allowance Before or After I'm Grounded? It is a book for parents that shares unique insights into the minds of teens and tweens. We also are the first parenting book to use the same techniques that human-lie detectors use to connect with kids--a fun and interesting approach to parent-child communication.

MCA: Wow. That's a fascinating concept! So as you prepare for your launch, where are the best places for people to keep up with you?
Vanessa: Well, people can always find me on the Radical Parenting website (www.radicalparenting.com) and on our Facebook Page. I have just started a new column for CNN, and we'll launch the book in September, starting in Los Angeles. Right now, it's a six-city tour that includes LA; New York; Fairfield County, CT; Portland, OR; Charlotte, NC; and St. Louis, MO.

MCA: Now that you are a well-seasoned honoree, what piece of advice would you offer to new alumni?
Vanessa: Always offer advice and help that is tangible and you would use yourself. This will get you followers and supporters because what you are saying is helpful and genuine.

MCA: In that first interview, you talked about the importance of dreaming really big and working really hard to reach your goals. Clearly with all the work you've put in those dreams are coming true. What are you most looking forward to in 2011?
Vanessa: I cannot wait to start a new book and speaking tour around the country this fall. The new CNN column is a nice stretch for me. I like how it has introduced me to many new readers ... and potentially more Youthologists.

MCA: Congratulations again, Vanessa, and we look forward to hearing more about your new book and the tour this fall! To learn more about Vanessa's books, just click the cover. It'll take you to Amazon.com

Note: The Mom's Choice Awards has an affiliate relationship with Amazon.com and can earn income on purchases made through our links. The cover links are provided for convenience so you can learn more, they are not an obligation to purchase products nor a recommendation.

Alumni Spotlight Update: Heather Ledeboer, Mom4Life.com

2011-06-09T13:45:00.000-04:00

We call our honorees "alumni" for a reason ... you deserve a lifetime of recognition for all you've accomplished to help families find the best. Our new Update series gives you a chance to meet or reconnect with honorees you've read about or heard about before. So on with the show ...

It's hard to believe that it has been almost two years since we had a chance to talk with Heather Ledeboer, founder and owner of Mom4Life.com. [Just compare the photo to the left with the one on our original interview.] In our September 2009 spotlight, Heather talked about growing up in a log cabin, being a new mom, and her inspiration for her multi-award-winning website Mom4Life.com.

MCA: I noticed that you have a new Mom4Life video channel on YouTube. What else have you been working on since we did our interview last year?
Heather: We updated our website look and shopping cart to improve upon both the shoppers experience and the ease of back end functions for our staff.

MCA: Do you have any additional honors to celebrate?

Heather: Last year we were honored to receive the Pregnancy & Newborn Readers' Choice award for "Best Online Baby Store" for the third year in a row.

MCA: In addition to your website, what are the other best places for people to keep up with you and Moms4life.com?
Heather: We're on Facebook, Twitter, and we also have a blog. Those are the best ways for moms to discover our sales, product queries, and reviews.

MCA: Now that you are a well-seasoned honoree, what piece of advice would you offer to new alumni?
Heather: Simply to take advantage of the opportunity to talk up your achievements! Make sure you mention it on your press page as well as in press releases, on your social networking avenues and customer newsletters.

MCA: What are you most looking forward to at Mom4Life.com in 2011?
Heather: Improving our customer base and sales with our new website.

MCA: Do you have anything on the drawing board right now?
Heather: As a matter of fact, I do. I have finished a manuscript of a book and am working on submitting it for publication consideration.

MCA: We are so happy to have you as a judge in helping us select the best in family-friendly media, products, and services. Can you talk about your role as a judge for the Mom's Choice Awards?
Heather: I loved being able to see first hand the creative ways that people are using their writing talents. I also enjoyed being able to provide honest feedback in reference to their work.

MCA: Thanks for stopping by, Heather. It was great to have a moment to catch up.

From the Mailbox: Lots of Sweet News from Little Pickle Press

2011-06-02T12:00:00.000-04:00

We subscribe to our honorees' newsletters because it helps us keep up with them ... and they're always filled with great news. The LPP Insider is no exception ...

So imagine our joy in learning that "our very own" Rana Diorio will be visiting The Balancing Act on June 14, 2011 to talk about "the importance and challenge of discussing meaningful topics with children."

Rana is the founder of Little Pickle Press and a multi-award-winning children's author. Her series What Does It Mean ... has garnered multiple awards from a myriad of organizations. In addition to Mom's Choice Awards for each of the titles in the series, the books' excellence has been recognized by the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards, Teacher's Choice Awards, and the Best Book Awards, as well as Indie Book, Nautilus, and Ben Franklin Awards programs.

Other LPP award-winning books include Sofia's Dream by Land Wilson and Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak, PhD.

As Rana also points out in the newsletter, LPP books are going global and are being translated into Korean and Chinese. "Now THIS is what it means to be global."

Congratulations Rana and the LPP family!

10 TV Moms You We Secretly Want to Be! - ad

2011-05-31T08:35:00.001-04:00

There are many different kinds of moms out there! Check out these 10 TV Moms everyone secretly wants to be!

BEA 2011 Countdown: Happy Birthday Ziggy

2011-05-23T05:16:00.001-04:00

Wow, this is our last Countdown post. We've covered all the cool stuff - and uber-cool people - in our booth; talked about author interviews and autographs, and now, last but not least, we present Ziggy.

Like you, we are anxiously awaiting the unveiling of the artistic cake we've ordered to celebrate Tom Wilson and Ziggy's 40th Anniversary. A Cake In Time, located in Mt Sinai, Long Island, NY, is creating what will likely be a masterpiece too perfect to eat.

If you want to see it when we do, be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, our fans get the first glimpse!

Twitter: @MomsChoiceAward
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MomsChoiceAwards

From the Cake in Time kitchen ...

"A Cake in Time specializes in fun, unique, custom made cakes that taste great. Whether its a tall, colorful, tipsy tower of cakes or an elegant wedding cake, we create each with the detail and taste you expect for your event."

Find them on the web at www.acakeintime.com

and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotoacakeintime

Hopefully you'll get to see the cake in person on Thursday, May 26, 2011, 10:30am to Noon. Don't be late, though ... it is cake, so we'll wait just a few minutes before we start cutting!

BEA 2011 Countdown: Events in Booth 2264, Part 3

2011-05-22T05:30:00.022-04:00

The countdown continues! In Part 1 we previewed some of the prizes in our daily drawings. Yesterday we introduced you to honorees and alumni in our booth (2264) on Tuesday ... complete with a slideshow with their award-winning products.

This morning, we're covering the Middle: Wednesday. Today we showcase the award-winning work of our honorees that you'll see on Wednesday. Be sure to scroll to the bottom, in addition to the folks filming and signing, alumni will be chatting with guests all day long.

10:00 - 11:00

:30 Donna Scott-Nusrala signs Twinkle Toes, her award-winning nonfiction picture book

:30 Vicky Whipple is autographing The Little Weed Flower, her award-winning bilingual picture book

In the AUTHOR CORRAL (Table 6) ...

:30 - Marie Rudd will be signing Brookie's Itty Bitty Book of Words

:30 - Rana DiOrio will be signing What Does It Mean to Be Global?

11:00 - 12:n

:00 Marie Carr chats with us about her award-winning book Sending Your Child to College (filmed interview)

:20 Barbara Meyers and Lily Hamilton share the story behind their picture book Lily & Nana (filmed interview)

:30 Mary Jane Romig is signing Grandfather's Garden, her award-winning children's picture book

:30 NeonSeon joins us to sign Life of Shouty: Good Habits, his 2010 award-winning picture book

:40 Sharon Cramer talks with us about her award-winning Cougar Cub Tales series (filmed interview)

1:00 - 2:00

:00 Dawn Matheson signs her award-winning picture book Ruby Lee the Bumble Bee

:20 We'll chat with Geraldine Lewis about Popsi: The Daughter of Mother Nature, her award-winning picture book (filmed interview)

2:00 - 3:00

:00 Illustrator Jill Dubin signs copies of her book Over in Australia

:40 Hayley Rose talks with us about her multi-award-winning picture book Fifo 50 States (filmed interview)

In the AUTHOR CORRAL (Table 6) ...

:00 Debra Snyder is signing her book Intuitive Parenting

:00 Johnny Tan is signing From From My Mama's Kitchen: Food for the Soul, Recipes for Living

3:00 - 4:00

:00 We'll talk with Mary Jane Romig about her award-winning humor book for children Grandfather's Garden (filmed interview)

:00 You'll be able to get signed copies of Sharon Cramer's Cougar Cub Tales series

From 9:am to 11:am catch NeonSeon before he starts his autograph session.

For the lunch shift (11:am to 1:pm), stop by to chat with Johnny Tan and Debra Snyder ... ask Debra about her Author Corral experience. You can also stay to watch our interview with Geraldine Lewis, which follows at 1 o'clock.

NeonSeon is back from 1:pm to 5:pm! From 1 to 3 he's sharing the booth with Claudia Ross and Sharon Cramer. Then he shares the spotlight with Marie Rudd, Marie Carr, and Hayley Rose from 3 o'clock until closing.

BEA 2011 Countdown: Events in Booth 2264, Part 2

2011-05-21T07:30:00.009-04:00

The countdown continues! Yesterday we had a preview of some of the prizes in our daily drawings, today we want to introduce you to the honorees and alumni who are in our booth on Tuesday, May 24, 2011.

9:00 - 10:00
:30 - Mary Cashman and Cynthia Whipple autograph Merrilee Mannerly & Her Magnificent Manners

10:01 - 11:00
:30 JoaAnn Deak, Ph.D. signs Your Fantastic Elastic Brain , her award-winning nonfiction picture book
:30 Susanna Hill signs Not Yet, Rose, her award-winning picture book

11:01 - 12:n
:00 Brittany Glynn talks with us about her Christian Fiction Novel Dreams (filmed interview)
:20 Rana DiOrio talks with us about her What Does It Mean to Be ... picture book series (filmed interview)
:30 Melinda Chambers signs Fraidy Cat, her children's picture book (2010 award winner)
:30 Eileen Wacker signs copies of her Fujimini Adventure children's picture book series
:40 JoAnn Deak, Ph.D. talks with us about Your Fantastic Elastic Brain (filmed interview)

12:01 - 1:00
:00 Jeanne Muchnick talks with us about her award-winning cookbook Dinner for Busy Moms (filmed interview)

1:00 - 2:00
:00 Johnny Tan talks with us about his award-winning cookbook From My Mama's Kitchen (filmed interview)
:00 Barbara Myers and Lily Hamilton sign copies of Lily and Nana, their award-winning children's book
:00 Brittany Glynn signs copies of her Christian fiction novel DreamsDreams
:20 Marie Schwartz talks with us about TeenLife, her award-winning online resource for teens (filmed interview)

2:00 - 3:00
:00 Geraldine Lewis signs copies of her book Popsi: The Daughter of Mother Nature
:00 Johnny Tan autographs copies of his award-winning cookbook From My Mama's Kitchen
:00 Marie Rudd and Claudia Ross talk with us about Brookie's Itty Bitty Book of Words, their award-winning board book (filmed interview)
:20 Catherine Gibson talks with us about Through Sophie's Eyes: Finger Spell Book, a picture book for differentiated learners (filmed interview)
:40 We talk with Eileen Wacker, creator of the award-winning Fujimini Adventure series (filmed interview)

All day long, you'll have the opportunity to meet and greet other honorees joining us in the booth.

From 9:a to 11:am Meet: Karen Rautenberg and Eileen Wacker

Karen Rautenberg returns and will be joined by Debra Snyder, PhD; Catherine Gibson; Cynthia Whipple; and Mary Cashman from 11:am to 1:pm

In the 1:pm to 3:pm window grab your last chance to chat with Karen Rautenberg, and meet Camille Matthews and Jeanne Muchnick

Then, join Jeanne Muchnick, Marie Carr, and Katie Williams for some quiet conversation from 3:pm to 5:pm.

BEA 2011 Countdown: What's Happening in Booth 2264, part 1

2011-05-20T06:15:00.000-04:00

Wow, just three more days until BookExpo America 2011 kicks off at the Javits Center. There is so much to see and do at BEA, and we're sure you've filled your planner with some of the best!

We have a few "bests" of our own and we hope you've still got a little space in your days to meet our Alumni, learn about the awards, and maybe even win one of our giveaways. Let's start with our prizes ... we'll talk about autographing in the next post!

The Jester has Lost His Jingle, a book written by her David Saltzman, won a gold honor in the Children's Picture Book - Philanthropic category. David wrote the story, but died of cancer before it could become a book.

Proceeds from the book benefit the Jester & Pharley Fund, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to both helping ill children, especially those with cancer, and igniting a love for reading among students nationwide.

Our Mission: To give children joy, laughter, the love of learning, and a way to live up to the motto of the classic children's book, "The Jester Has Lost His Jingle" -- “It’s up to us to make a difference. It’s up to us to care.”©

On behalf of the Foundation, Barbara Saltzman, founder, has donated a copy of the book, as well as a Jester doll.

Josie Bissett, children's author, actress and Mom's Choice Awards Celebrity Mom of the Year and her publisher Compendium, are donating a Tickle Monster Laughter Kit for our raffle. The kit - which would make a great Father's Day gift - include a copy of Josie's book Tickle Monster, as well as the special Magical Tickle Monster Mitts.

Thanks to the generosity of author Ellen Langas, we have two complete sets of the Girls Know How series for young readers. The titles in the set are: Will Stephanie Get The Story?, Raising the Roof, and Smart Alex.

We'll also have drawings for ...

One free entry into the Mom's Choice Awards
Amazon.com gift cards
Starbucks gift cards

From the Mailbox: Walk Now for Autism Speaks,

2011-05-19T17:06:00.001-04:00

Greg Walsh is the founder and president of Walsh PR. A number of the clients he represents have earned Mom's Choice Awards. Gregi is also Ryan's dad. Ryan is (almost) eight and began showing the signs of Autism at just 19 months. Each year, Greg and his family - known as Team RyeBreads - participate in the Walk Now for Autism, a fundraiser for Autism research.

In his note to us, Greg shared his personal story, and some startling details about just how many kids are on the Autism Spectrum.

My son Ryan is autistic. We've been taking part in Ryan's "Big Walk" for the past 5 years. It's a tradition and it is always held right around the time of Ryan's birthday. Ryan turns 8 years old this year. We are lucky that Ryan is a very happy little boy most of the time. Someone said once when they saw a picture of him as a baby that it looks like Ryan's whole body is happy when he smiles. She was right. The "Big Walk" weekend is one of those "ultimate happy" times for Ryan.

Date: June 5, 2011
Time: 11am start, with pre-walk ceremony, events, stage show at 9am

My wife and I were lucky that we recognized some of the early signs of autistic behavior and Ryan was diagnosed when he was only 19 months old. The early intervention has been invaluable to Ryan's development.

Ryan is about to complete first grade at the local elementary school with his peers. These days he is growing up and is starting to feel embarrassed when I call him RyeBread in front of his friends. Sorry Ry, but you will always be my RyeBreads because I'll remember being able to cradle you between my wrist and elbow when you were a baby, just like a warm soft loaf of bread. Besides, I think it is fun nickname.

With the help of Autism Speaks' research and funding for services for autistic children, there is now more support for all of the families living with autism - because it does affect the whole family.

Chances are that you will encounter someone affected by autism today. Every 20 minutes another child is diagnosed. The current statistics show that every 1 in 115 children - including 1 in every 70 boys -is diagnosed as being on the spectrum.

Many times, you have a sense of it even before the formal diagnosis ... either way, your family is thrust into a completely different reality.

If you'd like to walk with us, you can sign up and get some pledges as part of our team, or you can sponsor us with a donation. Many companies provide their employees with matching gifts. Please consult your employer on its matching gift guidelines; Autism Speaks provides matching gift forms to facilitate your generosity.

The money we raise is to help all of the children, parents and families connected to autism.

I'll be sure to send photos from our walk. We'll be the team wearing red - Ryan's favorite color.

Thank you for taking an important step in the fight against autism.

Greg

You can donate to Walk Now for Autism Speaks and/or join my team online using the links at the bottom of this page. Donations can also be mailed to Autism Speaks using the donation form located on my page or send me a check made out to Autism Speaks.

Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Autism Speaks is a 501 (C)(3) charity. The Tax Id number is: 20-2329938.

You can also chat with Greg about the walk and Autism next week at BookExpo America. Look for him in our booth (2264) where he will be demonstrating MCA award-winning products Words of the Wise and Chronicles of the Mind from Griddly Games; Yamodo Party Time, and showing Star Kids Products Snack & play and Air Play travel trays. He'll also be there for Ziggy's 40th anniversary celebration.

This information is provided on behalf of an honoree and/or alumnus doing charitable work. It is neither an endorsement or a request to support the project from the Mom's Choice Awards.

BEA Spotlight Shines on Tim Ostermeyer and the Adventures of Rusty and Ginger Fox

2011-05-19T08:30:00.002-04:00

Tim Ostermeyer knows the hard work that goes into crafting an award-winning product. Tim is a Master Photographer whose wildlife photography has earned him 250 (!) First Place awards, and Photographer of the Year by various organizations.

Transforming those images into a story for children, in many ways is an extension of the art Tim knows and loves. As you'll see in our interview, he relishes the opportunity to combine art, story, and life lessons for kids, into books that everyone can enjoy.

Please welcome Tim Ostermeyer to the stage.

Read more

BEA 2011 Countdown: Award-Winners on Display

2011-05-18T14:25:00.000-04:00

They say a picture is worth a thousand words so today we're going to take a more 'visual' approach to celebrating the Countdown to BookExpo America. [squee!]

This is a nice, virtual preview of 101 of the Mom's Choice Award-winning products you'll not only be able to see, but touch - and even play with or win in our DRAWING - this year.

The creators of many of these products are filming interviews, volunteering, and/or signing copies of their books in the Autograph Area or our booth (2264). We hope you're following us on Twitter, because we'll be giving you scheduling information and up-to-the-minute happenings at BookExpo 2011. See you there!

BEA 2011 Countdown: Blue-Ribbon Event for Publishers

2011-05-17T07:00:00.015-04:00

The Mom's Choice Awards has been attending BookExpo America since 2006, and each year we come home with ideas on ways to help our alumni in the publishing industry better leverage the value of our prestigious award.

Several years ago we introduced our jewel-quality lapel pin. Perfect for adding to your lanyard and name tag. It is a great ice breaker because people invariably ask about the Mom's Choice Awards ... and it opens the door for you to talk about your award-winning products.

Alumni & Judges - If you've attended BEA previously, you received a jewel-quality pin. Please make sure it's packed with your show materials. We only bring pins for first-time show attendees.
All alumni and judges - stop by the booth to get stickers for your badge to show your special status.

New this year are our Rosette Ribbons for honoree publisher booths. Add them to a book or hang them on your banner to give visitors the added confidence that your products are family-friendly!

Publishers - We'll be setting up booth #2264 on Monday, so feel free to stop by and pick up your ribbons. Or, you can request that we deliver them to you. Send your request to help [at] momschoiceawards [dot] com.
Alumni - Even if you can't attend BEA this year, you can get that ribbon on your award-winning product by letting your publisher know how to get it.

BookExpo America is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to showcase your family-friendly media, products, and distinctions. Ribbons and pins are yet another way to make it easy for librarians, retailers, families, and educators to navigate the vast array of products and services and make informed decisions.

BEA 2011 Countdown: BookExpo America is Mobile

2011-05-16T06:30:00.000-04:00

Wow! BookExpo America (BEA) 2011 is almost here.One week from today we'll be in New York celebrating North America's largest publishing event.

As we count down until May 23, we thought we'd share news and ideas to help you make the most of your experience.

The excitement has been building for weeks on @BookExpoAmerica (twitter) and the Book Expo America Facebook page. If you haven't had the chance to follow along, you can easily catch up by using Twittersearch and typing in hashtags #BEA11 or #BookExpo you can pull up the stream of conversations.

Today's topic: Mobile BEA. Thanks to sponsor Baker & Taylor, you can get BookExpo America on your mobile device. With a web-enabled phone or e-reader, you can use on-the-fly the tools you already use on your desktop, plus some really cool tools

Exhibitor Lists
The floorplan
New Products and Show Specials
Sessions and Events
Show News
Suggestions based on your interest
Get directions

In addition to what the tool gives you, you can create short lists, request appointments and callbacks, and take notes, among others.

Click on the image for your device to get the tools you need to make the most of BookExpo America 2011.

And be sure to come see us in Booth 2264/2265!

May Spotlight Shines on Clare Schexnyder Oh Baby! Fitness

2011-05-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

What's the difference between being a journalist and an entrepreneur? Not a whole lot. As Clare Schexnyder explains, her tenacity and aggressive research were just the tools she needed as co-creator and owner of Oh Baby! Fitness, an exercise program for pregnant and new moms.

In her last job before taking the title Mom, Clare was a producer for CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. One of her assignments was to do a story on newborns, and one of her stories focused on losing weight after pregnancy.

"All the experts told me the best way to lose weight was to work out with your baby. I looked all over Atlanta, but there really wasn’t a program that offered a variety of exercise programs to showcase Mom and Baby fitness. After traveling to major cities to profile different fitness programs, I seriously considered starting a business in Atlanta."

In September 2005, Clare launched Oh Baby! Fitness in Atlanta, the community where she lives. Now almost six years old, her program is growing into the next phase: expansion to other cities. Growing up ... just what happens to all babies, no?

Please welcome Clare Schexnyder to the Spotlight stage ...
Read more

May Spotlight Shines on I Can Do It by Growing Sound part of Children Inc.

2011-05-10T06:00:00.000-04:00

Growing Sound is the nonprofit venture of Children, Inc., which has been offering educational resources to children and their families since 1977. In some ways, Growing Sound (created in 1997) is a 20th Anniversary tot he world.

The organization was developed to create music and other products that translate key findings from recent child development research into practical and entertaining products for teachers, parents, and children.

In just four years, Growing Sound has produced a suite of children’s musical products that are available in traditional formats as well as electronic downloads making them easy to use at home, in the car, or at school. All of our songs have been field-tested in our classrooms to ensure the songs resonate with kids, teachers and parents. Parents and teachers are provided with interactive strategies they can enjoy doing with their child and simple explanations of the research behind the products to help maximize the experience.

Today we welcome Growing Sound's Emily Sandul to the stage.

Read more

From the Mailbox: An Open Request for Alumni

2011-05-09T13:33:00.001-04:00

Robyn Douglas, Troop Leader for Downeast Dog Scouts Troop 159 (Bar Harbor, Maine) is collecting books for a project. We received a copy of Robyn's request at the Mom's Choice Awards and thought it was worth sharing.

Cirra at the Northeast Harbor Library

I am writing to request a donation of children's books to be used throughout this year in the Downeast Dog Scouts Children Reading to Dogs Program in Hancock County, Maine. The books will be used as reward books for children's reading accomplishments. Program dogs are registered therapy dogs who volunteer with their handlers as a team. They go to schools, libraries, and many other settings as reading companions for children. The Children Reading to Dogs Program is part of the private non profit Downeast Dog Scouts Troop 159.

The Children Reading to Dogs Program provides opportunities for children to read to therapy dogs individually and in small reading groups. Students are also encouraged to read at home by participating in Book Bag Programs by reading to a stuffed dog at home. The children take turns bringing home a small tote bag with a stuffed dog and books appropriate for that child's reading level. Many of the students write or draw pictures about the books they are reading to the stuffed dog. The goal of the program is to inspire excitement about reading and literacy.

During 2010, Downeast Dog Scouts Troop members and their listening dogs provided 265 hours of community service listening to children read at local libraries and schools. Children Reading to Dogs Programs increase children's reading skills, confidence and self esteem. Children that have special canine relationships develop empathy for dogs and others. The reading sessions create a love of reading and lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning.

Each time a child reads to a dog they choose a sticker for their bookmarks. After the child has read a certain number of books they are rewarded a special new book of their own. Children who haven’t learned to read well often have quite inadequate or deprived home situations and having a new book of their own is a precious commodity that they really appreciate. As the Children Reading to Dogs Program grows we are in need of more and more books to provide rewards for the children.

Last year, the Downeast Dog Scouts sponsored the Island Dog Creative Writing Project which was a tremendous success! The Troop partnered with schools, libraries and preschool centers in and around Mount Desert Island for an innovative program to encourage kids to write creatively and read with imagination. Children age ten and under used the picture book "Island Dog", as inspiration to create their own stories. Children chose between narrating a story, writing individually and collaborating with a buddy or group. The children were rewarded with a community celebration. The activities at the celebration included: a showcase of children's stories, awarding of children's certificates, meeting the Downeast Dog Scouts, children reading to dogs, "Learning About Dogs" scavenger hunt, pizza party, fun and games.

The Downeast Dog Scouts Troop 159 was established in September 2007 and is the first and only Dog Scout troop in Maine. The troop offers a local membership program for people who advocate responsible dog ownership and enjoy participating in dog centered activities. Troop members take an active role in the community by providing educational programs and canine related community service.

During 2010, troop members and their dogs provided a total of 589 hours of community service in activities such as: therapy dog visits, children reading to dogs programs, school visits, walkathons, clean up days, and volunteering with dog related organizations in Hancock County, Maine. Troop members and their dogs learn new skills working toward the Dog Scouts of America merit badges and participating in troop outings and activities. Downeast Dog Scouts Troop 159 promotes the positive treatment of animals, advocating only the most modern behavioral approaches to training.

The Downeast Dog Scouts Troop 159 is a non profit sub group (IRS Sub Group #5512) of the Dog Scouts of America (EIN #38-3478408). The Dog Scouts of America is a national non profit 501c3 organization dedicated to educating people about responsible dog ownership, the important role of the human/canine bond and to challenge people and dogs to learn how to better serve each other. Currently there are over fifty local Dog Scout troops from Maine to Hawaii. All troops work toward the goals and missions of the Dog Scouts of America while focusing on the needs and interests of each local community. Additional information regarding the Dog Scouts of America is available at www.dogscouts.org.

The Downeast Dog Scouts Troop 159 has been recognized as a "Top Dog Troop" for 2008, 2009 and 2010 by the Dog Scouts of America. The Dog Scouts of America Troop Recognition Program rewards troops for being active and helping in their community. Recognition is given to local troops that achieve a designated level of points within the year. Troops earn these points through accomplishments in membership, training, education and community service activities.

Giving a special book to each child who participates in the Children Reading to Dogs Program is an important reward and a wonderful way to encourage children's enthusiasm about reading. We are a small all volunteer group funded through small fundraising projects and nominal membership fees. Any book donations to the Children Reading to Dogs Program would be greatly appreciated. Please contact me know if I can answer any questions regarding this request. downeastdogscouts@yahoo.com

Please note - the request is for your information. It does not imply any obligation on your part or endorsement on ours.

Mom's Choice Awards Welcomes April 2011 Honorees

2011-05-05T12:48:00.001-04:00

Congratulations and Welcome
April 2011 Alumni class!

The Mom's Choice Awards is honored to present this group of authors, businesses, creators, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who have created the best-of-the-best in family friendly media and services.

May Spotlight Shines on Yes Kidz Can by Lisa Novick and Julie Chapman

2011-05-05T06:00:00.004-04:00

Have you ever wondered how long it takes to really make a difference? Well, for moms Julie Chapman and Lisa Novick, it's been a fast sixteen months.

These two moms have been involved with philanthropy for along time, and when they launched Yes Kidz Can! in January 2010, they focused all that experience on one purpose: to encourage kids, their families, and their schools to bring giving experiences to their lives.

“We call a ‘giving experience’ any teachable, memorable, or enjoyable moment that reinforces the value of giving back for parents and kids,” say co-founders Julie Chapman and Lisa Novick. (press release)

Keep reading to learn more about Lisa, Julie, and their self-described do-good company founded on the idea that kids can change the world, one act at a time.

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From the Mailbox: Maria T. Maria DiVencenzo Finalist for IBPA Best Picture Book of the Year!

2011-05-04T20:57:00.003-04:00

With her short note this afternoon, MCA award-winning author Maria T. diVencenzo made our day. Heck, maybe even our week.

Maria's newest book, The Scariest Dream Ever, is a finalist for the IBPA Best Picture Book of the Year, also known as the Benjamin Franklin Award.

Last year, Maria DiVencenzo won her first Mom's Choice Award for The Star of Christmas (Gold, Children's Picture Book, Seasonal/Holiday/Festivals category). Earlier this year The Scariest Dream Ever earned her gold again, this time in the Children's Books, Bedtime Stories category.

Each year, on the eve before the start of BookExpo America, the Independent Book Publishers Association celebrates - and recognizes excellence - in independent publishing. Why "Benjamin Franklin"? Because he is America's most cherished publisher/printer.

The Awards reception begins at 6:00 pm on May 23, 2011, and the awards presentation begins at 7:00 pm. If you don't have the opportunity to see Maria there, stop by the Mom's Choice Awards Booth (#2264) on Tuesday to congratulate her!

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2011-05-04T08:45:00.001-04:00

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Multi Award-winning Author Cheri L. Hallwood is Bringing Books to Life

2011-04-23T05:41:00.000-04:00

Now, in addition to being a mom-preneur, publisher, and multi-award-winning author, Cheri L. Hallwood has added the title "judge." Cheri is helping to judge the winners among the finalists in the Miller College Children's Literature Project.

She is also looking forward to see the transformation of three of her picture books - The Curious Polka Dot Surprise; One Wish for Winifred Witch; and Winter's First Snowflake - presented on stage.

From the Forever Young Publishers Press Release ...

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2011-04-22T09:03:00.001-04:00

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Christian Ministry Facebook Page - Sponsored Post

2011-04-22T09:01:00.001-04:00

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TIVO Alert: MCA Award-winning Author Melinda Chambers on Lifetime Television

2011-04-21T12:00:00.000-04:00

Award Winning Author to Appear on

Lifetime’s ‘The Balancing Act’ on Tuesday

TERRA ALTA – Award winning author Melinda Chambers of Romney will appear as a guest on Tuesday’s episode (26 April 2011) of “The Balancing Act” on Lifetime TV. The show airs from 7-8 a.m.

Chambers has earned seven national awards for her children’s books including three Mom’s Choice Awards for Best Children’s Books—Values & Life Lessons. Chambers’ books, We Are Whooo We Are and Fraidy Cat, won Gold, and The Day The Snapdragons Snapped Back, won Silver.

Chambers was also named Finalist for “Best Children’s Series” by USA Best Book Awards, the premiere online magazine and review website for mainstream and independent publishing houses.

Illustrated by Sue Ann Maxwell Spiker, Chambers’ books take lessons from nature and the beautiful artwork makes each book a favorite for children and adults.

Linda Chambers will be a featured author at BookExpo America in New York in May 2011. Be sure to stop by to see her in the Mom's Choice Awards booth, #2264

April Spotlight on Karen Duggan and Playful Planet

2011-04-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

The Mom's Choice Awards is honored to welcome Karen Duggan, founder of Playful Planet and the multi-award-winning program Storyland Yoga: Interactive Family Fun.

As Karen's story shows us, you just never know when an idea becomes a spark and turns into a passion! Just four years ago, a conversation among parents was the seed for a collaborative effort with her husband Bryan and Ahmed Fahmy, a local yoga instructor.

As the vision grows, so does the realization that much of what Playful Planet does is philanthropic in nature. The topics are timely, necessary and are meaningful on a global level. Playful Planet welcomes all to join their Community with the belief that together we can create a brighter future for our children and the planet.

Please welcome Karen Duggan to the Alumni Spotlight.
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BookTrailer: Hot Issues, Cool Choices by Sandra McLeod Humphrey

2011-04-13T13:00:00.001-04:00

Mom's Choice Awards honoree Sandra McLeod Humphrey has made it her life's passion to get kids and adults talking together ... about the hard stuff, like bullying and peer pressure. Her new book trailer graphically illustrates the emotions and impact of leaving these issues unaddressed.

Hot Issues, Cool Choices: Facing Bullies, Peer Pressure, Popularity and Put-Downs (Prometheus Books, 2007) earned Mom's Choice Awards Gold in the Juvenile Level 2 (ages 9 to 12), Self-Improvement Category.

Meet Sandra and learn more about her books at www.KidsCanDoIt.com

Mom's Choice Awards Welcomes March 2011 Honorees

2011-04-04T08:30:00.000-04:00

Congratulations and Welcome

March 2011 Alumni class!

The Mom's Choice Awards is honored to present this group of authors, businesses, creators, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who have created the best-of-the-best in family friendly media and services.

Outstanding Young Contributor

Sameon Clay Klanot (4) for The Colors of Myself

Online Resources
AboutOne.com - AboutOne is a secure and private online subscription service that makes it easier to manage family life, no matter where you are. Its patent-pending technology saves time on the everyday tasks moms manage; it not only complements the file cabinets, books, boxes, multiple web and desktop applications that people use to store personal information, but also lets you reap the benefits (both in time and money) that come when you can put your information to work for you.

KinderIQ (ages 3 to 7) - Parents created KinerIQ as a resource to reinforce essential skills necesssary for early learning. The site provides unique, online, interactive questions, puzzles, and coloring activities for Kindergarten learning.

DVDs / Home & Mobile Viewing

Birds + Bees + Kids - The Basics by Amy Lang
Kids Teach Yoga - Flying Eagle by Three Pebble Press, LLC
Puppy Plays the Classics by Michael Estrella (ages 2 to 5)

Storyland Yoga: Interactive Family Fun with Ahmed Fahmy (Playful Planet, Ages 3 to 8)

Educational Products & Electronic Learning

Baby Einstein Discovery Kits by The Baby Einstein Company, LLC

Instant Bible Lessons for Preteens: Rock Solid Faith by Mary J. Davis (ages 10 to 12)
Mark-My-Time Digital Booklight by Mark-My-Time, LLC (ages 5 to 12)
A Present for Milo: A Touch and Surprise Storybook by Mike Austin (Ruckus Media Group) (Preschool)
Teaching Children to Pray by Mary J. Davis (ages 4 to 5)

Toys, Games, and Puzzles
Communication: Dads and Daughters Edition by Mindamics (ages 8 to 18, and Dads)

Children's Picture Books

Adventures of Rusty & Ginger Fox by Tim Ostermeyer
Bartholomew's Gift by Diane Dignan
Clay General by Kim Xiong
The Colors of Myself Dr. Karen Hutchins Pirnot
Cougar Cub Tales: I'm Just Like You by Sharon Cramer
Does This Make Me Beautiful? by Harriet Morse
Eat Your Breakfast or Else! by Jackie Jafarian Broad
Funny Bone Readers: Family Fun Pack 1 (Character Education) by Red Chair Press, LLC

Turbo Turtle To The Rescue; Let's Bee Friends; The Magic Words; Silly Tilly And The Royal Rules; Space Cat; and Fun In The Mud

Funny Bone Readers: Family Fun Pack 2 (Character Education) by Red Chair Press, LLC

The Best Birthday Gift; Lying Around; Squid And Pickles; Miss Moo Goes To The Beach; Helping Hands; The Clean Team

Grandma Wants to Eat My Baby Sister! by Jackie Jafarian Broad
Hearts Always Open by Glenna C. Orr
Henry! You're Late Again! by Mary Evanson Bleckwehl
Hide!!! by Jeff Foxworthy
I Can Dance Too by Victoria Ames and Lynette Toma
If I Had My Way by Rock S. Wilson
Lily & Nana by Barbara Myers and Lily Hamilton
Little Star by Anthony DeStefano
The Little Weed Flower by Vicky Whipple
Merrilee Mannerly and Her Magnificent Manners by Mary Cashman and Cynthia Whipple
My Grandpa's Coaching Third (Grandma Janet Mary) by Janet Mary Sinke
The Paci Pixie (book with CD) by Cheryl Hajjar and Amy Perreault
Paper Horse (English and Mandarin Chinese Edition) by Kim Xiong, retold in English by Clarissa Yu Shen

Raising Lucy - The True Story of Raising an Orphaned Wild Goose by Carol Muzik
The Savvy Cyber Kids At Home: The Family Gets A Computer by Ben Halpert

The Scariest Dream Ever by Maria T. DiVencenzo
The Sick Bug Goes to School by Susie Bazil
Sofia's Dream by Land Wilson
Stripey Follows His Dream (Animal Stories) by Gail Shumway
Thanks to Tank by Maureen Howard
Twinkle Toes by Donna Scott Nusrala

Wallie Exercises by Steve Ettinger
What Color Is Your Heart? by Linda Reau
What Does It Mean to be Present? by Rana Diorio

Juvenile Level 1 (5 to 8)
The Little King and His Marshmallow Kingdom by Louis Rotella III
Your Fantastic, Elastic Brain: Stretch It, Shape It by JoAnn Deak, Ph.D.

Juvenile Level 2 (9 to 12)
The Awakening Tales, Book 1: The Indigo Wizard by Paula Matthew

Belle's Trial by Connie Gotsch

The Christian Girl's Guide to Style by Sherry Kyle
Dinner for Busy Moms: Easy Strategies for Getting Your Family to the Table (Simple Solutions for Families) by Jeanne Muchnick
Ghosts on the Coast: A Visit to Savannah and the Low Country by Jane R. Wood

The Greatest Dot-to-Dot Super Challenge Set by David Kalvitis

Growing Up with a Bucket Full of Happiness: Three Rules for a Happier Life by Carol McCloud

Guarding the Tablets of Stone (Bill the Warthog Mystery Series) by Dean Anderson
Jake Learns All 8 Parts of Speech by Drema McNeal

The Kids Guide to Disease and Wellness Series by Rae Simons

Liam's Luck and Finnegan's Fortune by Tim Kiernan

Young Adult

Alysa of the Fields (Audio Book Set) by Tina Field Howe

Adult
As I Am, A True Story of Adaptation to Physical Disability by Garret Lee Frey and Dr. Karen Hutchins Pirnot

Babies Can Talk (Sign To Speak, 1) by Marilyn Daniels, MA. Ph.D.

Braided Cord: Tough Times In and Out by Liz Kulp, Jodee Kulp, Karl Kulp
Darby's Story: The Life of an Adopted Dog by Martha Steward
Dreams by Brittany Glynn
Homework Made Simple: Tips, Tools, and Solutions to Stress-Free Homework by Ann K. Dolin
Honey, I Wrecked the Kids: When Yelling, Screaming, Threats, Bribes, Time-outs, Sticker Charts and Removing Privileges All Don't Work by Alyson Schafer
Intuitive Parenting: Listening to the Wisdom of Your Heart by Debra Snyder
The Mini-Retreat Solution by Julia James
Navigating the ADHD Treatment Maze for Teens and Preteens: Handbook for Parents by Emily Kay, Ph.D.
Parenting Without Stress: How to Raise Responsible Kids While Keeping a Life of Your Own by Marvin Marshall
The Professional Housekeeper ("The Professional Housekeeper: Training Guide & DVD", 1) by Marta Perrone
Running with Stilettos: Living a Balanced Life in Dangerous Shoes by Mary Wagner

SuperBaby: 12 Ways to Give Your Child a Head Start in the First 3 Years by Dr. Jenn Berman
Tornado Warning: A Memoir of Teen Dating Violence and Its Effect On A Woman's Life by Elin Stebbins Waldal
When You Say "Thank You," Mean It: And 11 Other Lessons for Instilling Lifelong Values In Your Children by Mary O'Donohue

From the Mailbox: Melinda Chambers to be featured on Lifetime TV

2011-02-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

Imagine our delight when we heard that Mom's Choice Award-winning children's author Melinda Chambers was going to be on television!

Melinda, whose delightful children's picture books have won Mom's Choice Awards® is going to be filming an episode of The Balancing Act in early April. This is a great continuation of her accomplishments in 2010, when she three of her picture books earned Mom's Choice Awards® recognition. The award-winning books, illustrated by Sue Ann Spiker and published by Headline Books, took both Gold and Silver in the Values and Life Lessons category. Their titles are ..

Learn more about Melinda and watch our interview at BookExpo America 2010 on our YouTube channel.

The Balancing Act, which airs Monday through Friday 7:00am – 8:00am. (ET/PT), is America´s only one hour morning show that´s about women, for women, and trusted by women. Celebrating life and all there is to accomplish, The Balancing Act inspires and empowers with entertaining and educational shows–which helps place women in the best position to achieve success in every area of their lives.

We don't know when the episode with Melinda will air, but, as they say in the TV biz ... Stay tuned.

February Spotlight on Leigh K. Cunningham,award-winning author

2011-02-03T10:21:00.003-05:00

While most of us are cursing the snow, Leigh is enjoying the perpetual summer that comes with living in Singapore.

Rockhampton in Queensland, Australia, is Leigh's hometown and family memories and experiences -- especially her grandparents' hotel in Mirriwinni -- are woven into her two award-winning books for young readers.

Leigh left Rockhampton in 1994 and after spending several years in Sydney and Melbourne (mostly for career purposes), she and her husband Steve moved to Singapore in 2004. In addition to being an author, Leigh is a lawyer in the fields of international trade and investment law. She has also earned an MBA in International Management, has a Masters of Commerce, and a diploma in project management.

With two award-winning children's novels under her belt, Leigh is currently working on two novels for adults, both to be published this year. Please welcome award-winning author Leigh K. Cunningham ...

MCA: Thanks for joining us in the Spotlight Leigh! If memory serves, you are the first international Spotlight to come from the East. So double welcome!!

Can you please tell us about what motivated you to write The Glass Table and Shards, its sequel?

Leigh: Thanks for the warm welcome! My husband, Steve and I were sailing in the Whitsundays in 2005, and lying awake in our bunk bed staring up at the stars. Steve told me about a dream he had just had of people swimming in a lake, who were then seated at a glass table. Since he did not mention that in the dream the swimmers were adults and the glass table was in a boardroom, I envisioned the glass table at the bottom of the lake with children and so the story emerged this way. By the next morning I had written an outline, but never expected the two seconds of a dream to end up as two books in a series with more to come.

MCA: Now that you have an award-winning product, what are your goals for the next year?
Leigh: A lot of the work I did in 2010 is only now starting to come to fruition, so it looks like a busy year ahead. I have a lot of public speaking events, and some of those came about after I won my MCA silver medals. Here are a few that are already lined up ...

Young Writers Seminar: Getting Published (panel, and moderator for another session)
Publishers and Writers Network (presentation)
Asian Festival of Children’s Content (joint presentation)
2011 Pre-school and Primary Teachers Congress (presentation and a workshop)

I also plan to continue the book sales strategy I used in 2010: donate a number of books equivalent to my sales. Last year I donated books to orphanages, homes for disadvantaged children, and middle schools in the United States. In 2011, I plan to donate books to Books for Africa, Project Night, and First Book Marketplace.

I am also gearing up to be part of the MCA exhibition at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in March. I'm excited to have both The Glass Table and Shards on display.

MCA: Please name three ways your Mom's Choice Award® will help you attain your goals.
Leigh: Sure. They are credibility, opportunity, and motivation.

Credibility: a stamp of approval from the Mom’s Choice Awards® sums up everything a children’s author might like to say about their books with regard to content and positive messages for children. I feel more confident promoting my books now, with the MCA seal of approval.

Opportunity: being a recipient of an award from the Mom’s Choice Awards® opens doors that might not otherwise open, generating media, sales and public speaking opportunities. As mentioned above, I have a number of speaking engagements planned for the first five months of 2011, and my books have appeared in a number of magazines and newspapers since the award.

Motivation: marketing one’s books is a time-consuming process and motivation can wane, but an award from the Mom’s Choice Awards® brings new life to any campaign. Also, with an award like the MCA, one can pursue marketing strategies that might have otherwise seemed futile. A change in direction becomes possible.

MCA: Can you share with us what you learned about yourself as an artist/writer/entrepreneur in creating your award-winning product?
Leigh: It is not so much what I learned as a writer, but more what I hoped to achieve as a children’s author. I hope I successfully delivered a story with messages for children about key issues such as bullying, losing a sibling, single-parent families, and cultural differences ... without lecturing or postulating. The feedback I have received from readers would suggest this goal was achieved.

The mantra for authors is write what you know, and that is reflected in my books. Many of the messages are based on personal experience. For example, I grew up in a single-parent family, so I know how that dynamic works. My husband and have lived in Singapore for seven years, which has broadened my understanding of life in a multicultural society.

In The Glass Table, the first book in the series, 14-year-old Jack Irwin-Hunter hikes to Lake Como after running away from home. Since his younger brother was killed in a tragic accident, Jack felt unloved and unwanted while his parents mourned, but as a spirit he is able to return home unseen, to realize that in fact his parents miss him very much.

As a child, when a sibling dies, there is no way to understand your parent’s grieving, but as an adult, one can see the experience with an entirely different perspective, and that is the purpose of this storyline in The Glass Table. It is based on my own experience of having lost an older brother in a tragic accident when I was 16.

MCA: Since launching your , what has been your most rewarding experience in promoting or sharing it with the public? Do you have a favorite memory?
Leigh: I left my hometown of Rockhampton in Queensland, Australia, in 1994, so having my local newspaper feature me, as a writer, twice, was very rewarding. Sharyn O'Neill did a piece for the Morning Bulletin in February 2010 that gives some background about the characters (named after my nieces and nephews) and other hometown links woven into the stories. Most recently in December 2010, Kathryn Greensill wrote an article about The Glass Table and Shards winning the Mom's Choice Award®. Here's that link.

I was also fortunate enough to be able to hold a book launch at The Arts House in Singapore. It was an enjoyable night and an excellent opportunity to celebrate with friends and family.

Winning silver medals from the Mom’s Choice Awards® though, has so far been the highlight.

MCA: As a new honoree, do you have any questions you'd like some of the "old hands" to answer for you?
Leigh: I don’t have specific questions however I do spend time on the Mom’s Choice Awards® Alumni Group on LinkedIn site where all of us can ‘meet’ to share their post-award initiatives.

MCA: Thanks for taking the time to join us today. We can't wait to hear more about how your 2011 shapes up.

Mom's Choice Awards® Honors

The Glass Table
by Leigh K. Cunningham
Vivante Press
2010 - Silver
Children's Books / Juvenile Level 2 (9 to 12)
Fiction subcategory

Shards, A Sequel to The Glass Table
by Leigh K. Cunningham
Vivante Press
2010 - Silver
Children's Books / Juvenile Level 2 (9 to 12)
Fiction subcategory

xxx
Contact, Connect, and Network with Leigh

Congratulations New Alumni ~ January 2011

2011-02-01T14:14:00.000-05:00

Congratulations and Welcome

January 2011 Alumni class!

The Mom's Choice Awards is honored to present this group of authors, businesses, creators, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who have created the best-of-the-best in family friendly media and services. We hope you'll welcome them to OUR family of alumni.

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Children's Picture Books

Yafi's Family: an Ethiopian Boy's Journey of Love, Loss and Adoption by Linda Pettitt

Adult

The Nanny Factor, A Parent's Guide to Finding the Right Nanny for Your Family by Candi Wingate

Texas Tables by the Junior League of North Harris and South Montgomery Counties Texas

From the Mailbox: Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy by Tina Turbin wins ANOTHER Award

2011-02-01T11:40:00.004-05:00

For award-winning author Tina Turbin, 2011 is shaping up to be as great a year for her - and Danny - as 2010 was. Yesterday, she posted this news on the Danny the Dragon blog:

I’m happy to report that Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy, the first book in my Danny the Dragon children’s book series, has been recognized by the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards. The Annual Purple Dragonfly Awards is a contest that seeks to award authors of books that appeal to children in all age groups. On their website, they say that they search for books that “inspire, inform, teach or entertain.” I’m honored that they have found those qualities in the story of Danny the Dragon and Jimmy.

This award comes after a series of awards, for which I am truly honored, in contests including the Mom’s Choice Awards, iParenting Book Awards, and the International Book Awards. Danny the Dragon has been recognized for imparting messages about family togetherness and kindness, values which I strive to instill in others. Clearly, people are listening to these messages and appreciating their value.

I’m gratified that Danny the Dragon has resonated so deeply among the young and the young at heart. I am also grateful to have the opportunity to write books for young children as I continue the Danny the Dragon series. With this recognition from the prestigious Purple Dragonfly Book Awards, I can take pride in my work and I’m inspired to continue it.

Congratulations, Tina!!

Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy
by Tina Turbin
illustrated by Aija Jasuna
Imagination Publishing Group, 2008

2010 Silver - Children's Picture Books
Bedtime Stories

Alumni ABCs: The Media Kit 2.0 Resolution

2011-01-19T13:30:00.000-05:00

Ah, the media kit ... that necessary evil of marketing and promotion. If you're like most of us, January is that time when we set our goals and plan our marketing strategy for the coming year. It's also the perfect time to make sure that our media kit is doing all it can to promote us.

Even if you don't have a formal portfolio that you call a media kit, odds are pretty good that you have ...

The professional head shot;
Two bios (one short, one long);
An already-filled-in Q&A;
The sell sheet;
Testimonials page (or copies of articles); and
Photo(s) of the product ... maybe even you using them.

That's a media kit. It tells your would-be consumers and audience who you are and what you're selling. Traditionally, everything was printed hard copy and sent via the US Postal Service. Very expensive and getting more so.

The good news is that the Worldwide Web has made it easier (and cheaper) to share that information for free. You don't need a printing or mailing budget for your media kit anymore. There is still a place/need for old-school mailings, but there is less need to rely on them as your "hook."

These days, we not only access the Internet from our desktops, many of us carry it with us on our phones! There isn't a consumer who doesn't know about the Worldwide Web or use it for some aspect of their daily life. Bottom line: they know how to find you online.

The key is making sure it is easy for them to find whether they're visiting your website or blog. You may want something as formal as a Media Room (aka page) or part of an About page. The good news is you probably have all the content ready to be uploaded or set up with links from other spots. In one afternoon you can create a handy resource that can be found when people search your name, your product, or your area of expertise. You've got an easy way to link people to more about you when you send out email, too.

Something you might not have handy is more interactive and/or visual content. Getting your audience's attention in this 2.0 (read: 21st century) requires a more sophisticated hook. Let's use the canned biography s an example. Your would-be audience wants to know more about you than the standard blurb. They want a chance to get to know you and decide whether/not they like you. Ditto for your product.

Today's media kit requires that you include "interactive and/or visual content." What does that mean?

In a word: video. This doesn't have to be an Academy Award-worthy production. A Powerpoint slideshow, images of you reading or talking about your book ... the sky is the limit. People want the chance to "meet" you not just read about you. It is a chance for them to hear your voice and see the authentic you, not just the polished words that an editor could have written.

Bottom line: audiences (of all ages) are more likely to listen to you narrate information about your product than to read a detailed, traditional back story. More good news: you don't need expensive equipment or experience as a film-maker. Remember - this is about the authentic you. The person whom you would greet at a book-signing or a seminar.

On YouTube (and other video-sharing websites) you'll find plenty of examples of ways individuals and companies have illustrated, demonstrated, or talked about their product or brand. Look at a bunch of them ... what are the qualities you like? what are the formats you don't? Do you see ways you can adapt something to your own style or product?

As you think about the coming year and your marketing goals, take a look at your Media Kit. It is your audition to would-be consumers. Are you putting your best foot forward?

Other free resources for learning about Media Kits
5 Ways to Create a Media Kit by Joanna L. Krtoz (on Microsoft Small Business website)
Building Your Online Media Kit by Direct Contact PR
How to Build a Sales or Media Kit at e-How.com

Image Credits all go to OpenClipArt.org
Open Folder by Dagobert83
Band of Icons by AntiFlash
Movie Camera by SchoolFreeWare

January Spotlight on Suzy Bohnert and Game-Day Youth: Learning Baseball's Lingo

2011-01-10T20:00:00.001-05:00

If you have kids, they probably play sports ... maybe even sports you knew little about or didn't play as a kid yourself. They're curious about the sport so they ask you questions; as a caring parent you want to help them pursue their passion with as much know-how and confidence as possible.

Suzy Beamer Bohnert knows your story. She's living it as a mom to two kids active in several sports and interested in even more! Her "aha" moment for the Game-Day Sports series for kids came when she was trying to answer some of the questions her kids had ... and to understand what she was watching herself.

Please welcome Suzy Beamer Bohnert to the Alumni Spotlight.

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Congratulations Honorees - December 2010

2011-01-04T11:19:00.001-05:00

Congratulations and Welcome

December 2010 Alumni class!

The Mom's Choice Awards is honored to present this group of authors, businesses, creators, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who have created the best-of-the-best in family friendly media and services.

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Please welcome our honorees!

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Holiday Greetings from Executive Director Dawn Matheson

2010-12-23T08:12:00.000-05:00

Before we close up shop a few days to spend time with our families, I wanted to say Happy Holidays to our friends, followers, alumni, and honorees.

This is the time of year when we find those quiet moments to think about the past twelve months. 2010 has been an amazing year for the Mom’s Choice Awards® … and that is in no small part due to your belief in our mission.

Every day we are inspired by the gifts you share with us. It is not easy to step out of your comfort zone, and you have done it in an attempt to create something that positively impacts others around them. Thank you for all you do to share your gift with others and to support our work to strengthen families.

Celebrating 2010

“This is a very exciting time for all of us at the Mom's Choice Awards®. We are just a few weeks into the new year - a new decade! - and I am so excited about these programs and the opportunities that await us.”

I said that in a series of posts in January 2010 … who knew I could see into the future? It has been an amazing year. We currently have 500 judges in 12 countries (USA, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Ireland, France, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Norway and Colombia), and our logo has been translated into Spanish and French.

Our transition to an open awards cycle is probably the most visible evolution of the Mom’s Choice brand. Our 8-to-12-week turnaround is unheard of in the industry … we’re the first and only program to do it! We continue to receive and evaluate products just as they are reaching the marketplace. We give mom's access to analysis that won't be available anywhere else.

We are so thrilled to have Disney and Pampers establish licenses with us. In stores the Mom’s Choice Awards® emblem is on the product packaging for Baby Einstein products. We also made our television debut in an ad with Pampers. Seeing our Mother-Child emblem on television that first time (and every time since) is such a thrill.

We have taken some big technology leaps this year, too. Behind the scenes, our team has been working all year long to make the entry and evaluation processes more efficient. We are close to launching a sophisticated program that will match entries to judges using an automated protocol. It is a sophisticated model that makes the best match based on various criteria -- everything from their views on faith, whether or not the audience assists in the judging, the last time we sent an item, and on and on.

We also launched YES! for young authors, illustrators, producers, inventors, and entrepreneurs. YES! [which stands for Youth Endowment Services] provides financial assistance to youth interested in entering our awards program. This year we saw a slight increase in the number of youth entries, and we hope this continues to grow.

Our social networking presence continues to grow as well. This year we shined a spotlight on 28 honorees and added a From the Mailbox feature for the blog. Just this month we retooled the blog to make it easier to read and navigate. Beyond the blog, we’ve expanded our offerings on the Moms Choice Channel on YouTube; and we’ve built additional discussion groups on our Facebook Page and in LinkedIn.

Ringing in 2011

We’ll launch our new entry-matching program. I have always been excited about this project, but now that it’s almost here, I am getting very anxious to get it going. The new system will allow us to expand our reach -- both in the number of judges and number of countries -- in the coming year.

Entro®, our online magalog [a hybrid publication which blends product information and editorial features], will now be produced twice a year. Look for issues in January 2011 and July 2011. Each issue features stories about our alumni and a full catalog of award-winning, family-friendly products and services.

Earlier this year we launched the Mom’s Choice Academy and we are already planning for 2011. We will continue to sponsor Jenny Finke’s popular So I Won an Award … Now What? webinar, but on a more regular schedule. There will be more offerings in the year ahead … including a number of free, introductory webinars.

We also have a number of projects still in the developmental phase that aren’t ready for prime time quite yet.

In this season of gratitude and reflection, your Mom’s Choice Awards® team is honored to celebrate your creative spirit and help you reach those who can benefit from your gift. We are grateful for your enthusiasm and humbled by your passion for helping help us grow as individuals and become better sisters, mothers, and mentors.

Happy Holidays to you and your family,

From the Mailbox: Bella, Finny, and Bonnie - Four Paws Up!

2010-12-20T11:27:00.000-05:00

Poodles Bella and FInny are natural hams. They understand their star power and are never shy in front of the camera.

When MCA-award-winning author Bonnie A. Wayne saw that SmartTag Pet ID had a photo contest, she KNEW Bella and Finny would want in. This past summer, Bonnie spent some time with her daughter, photographer Tiffany Wayne. She chose this one to enter into the contest.

The photo WON! the contest and will be featured on the cover of the Little Gifts catalog.

Bella's Fashion Week photo

The SmartTag Pet ID contest is just the most recent of their winnings. In September, Bella won SmartTag Pet ID's Fashion Week for Pet's contest.

In October, Finny was one of five winners in the The New Yorker Magazine's 2010 Critterati Contest. You can see Finny in her award-winning outfit on the New Yorker website (slide show of winners)

Also in October, Dog Tipper selected The Adventures of Bella and Finny for their Facebook Friday roundup. Dog Tipper features tips by dog lovers, for dog lovers.

Finny

In November, 2010 Bella and Finny were chosen by “I Love My Dog” to be the Friday Dog of the day! More than 94, 000 fans of the I Love My Dog Facebook page got to see them Shine! we were very excited to be featured on their Fan page!

If you want a little more "dish" on Bella and Finny, then be sure to check out the untold story in "Poodles on the Loose," featured in the Laugh Out Loud section of Redbook magazine (July 2010). As Bonnie says, "it's my very funny, but oh-so-true story of Bella and Finny."

Four paws up to Bella, Finny, Bonnie, and Tiffany!

Alumni Spotlight on Ellen Langas and Girls Know How

2010-12-15T10:30:00.009-05:00

"When I was young, there were so many careers I dreamed of, but I couldn’t imagine how to turn those dreams into reality."

Ellen Langas drew on her own experience in looking for role models when she decided to create Girls Know How®, a multi-faceted project dedicated to helping girls follow their dreams, explore career opportunities, and access tools to help them along their journey.

Girls Know How® is a Division of Kids Know How®, also Ellen's company and part of her NouSoma Communications, Inc. Prior to launching Nousoma (the union of the Greek words for body and mind) in 1995, she was an officer of billion-dollar QVC, Inc., where she gained national visibility as a popular on-air host. She also is an accomplished commercial actress and voice-over talent.

With her busy schedule as business owner, author, spokesperson, and Mom, we are thrilled that she had a few minutes to spend with us. Please welcome Ellen Langas to the Spotlight.

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Alumni Spotlight Shines on Sharon Lechter, Creator of Thrive Time for Teens

2010-12-13T08:33:00.002-05:00

Sharon is one busy woman. She is a CPA, an entrepreneur, an author and publisher, public speaker, educator, phlilanthropist, and mom! It was in her role as Mom that she had that "aha" moment that sparked the launch of Pay Your Family First, LLC and the creation of Thrive Time for Teens, her multi-award-winning educational game.

My background as a CPA, and in publishing has allowed me to concentrate on financial literacy, which is my passion as a parent. We must provide our children the financial education they need to not only survive, but to thrive in the world they face.

President George W. Bush appointed Sharon and 18 others to his newly created President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy. Sharon continues to serve on the panel under President Obama. The group advises (and encourages) the President vis-a-vis the need for financial literacy education.

We are thrilled that Sharon was able to take some time and join us here in the Spotlight. Please welcome Sharon Lechter.

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Alumni Spotlight on Margaret Winchester and Baby GoGo

2010-12-10T09:15:00.001-05:00

Like many grandmothers, Margaret Winchester wants to find the perfect gifts for her grandchildren. She believes in the power of play and the value that these opportunities offer kids. With that idea in mind, she went looking for a doll that would help a soon-to-be big brother/sister prepare for a new little sister or brother. Everything she found fell into the dated, too cute, and too pink categories.

That is how Little Sib, LLC was born. Baby GoGo comes with a book so Mom, Dad and big brother can talk about being a bigger family. There are lots of accessories for BabyGoGo, too so that big sister can be "just like mom" or "just like dad" and change the doll's clothes, take them for a walk ... anything that they would want to share with a new brother or sister.

Please welcome Margaret Winchester to the Spotlight ...

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Alumni Spotlight on Johnny Tan

2010-12-07T11:30:00.001-05:00

Please welcome award-winning author and talk radio host Johnny Tan to the spotlight. It only takes a few moments of listening to Johnny to not only see but feel the love he has for mothers. Not just his biological and adopted mothers around the world, but all mothers. Through is book and organization From My Mama's Kitchen, Johnny wants to shine the global spotlight on the significant role mothers play in making a positive difference in our lives.

Without further ado, we are honored to introduce Johnny Tan.

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Congratulations Honorees - November 2010

2010-12-02T10:00:00.005-05:00

Congratulations and Welcome
November 2010 Alumni class!

The Mom's Choice Awards is honored to present this group of authors, businesses, creators, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who have created the best-of-the-best in family friendly media and services.

Amazon.com Widgets

See the full roster of November Honorees below

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From the Mailbox: Catching Up with Jeff Marginean

2010-11-22T09:15:00.001-05:00

In a recent email, multi-award-winning author and radio host Jeff Marginean shared news that brought us joy and sadness.

In August, Jeff's co-producer Joe Procario died. Since then, Jeff's My Buddy Butch Radio Show has been on hold. Jeff said that, in fact, everything has been on hold these last few months.

Now Jeff is happy to report that his My Buddy Butch Radio Show is being syndicated on the ABC/Citadel Satellite System. The show is a pet, lifestyle, and entertainment show featuring interviews with celebrities, and best-selling authors. "We cover family topics with a slant on pets and entertainment." Jeff adds that there will be a Rescue of the week segment and a Vet Topic of the week. Dick Rolfe of the Dove Foundation will offer a "serious look and review of family friendly media."

As part of this project, there is a new website: http://www.mbbradio.com. "We have aligned ourselves with such notable networks as the National Geographic Channel, Hallmark Channel, ABC Family, NBC Sports, and Animal Planet/Discovery Channel to bring behind-the-scenes interviews and the latest programming."

And, as if that isn't enough to keep him busy, Jeff is also working on the next book in his My Buddy Butch series. Stay tuned ...

From the Mailbox: Nick the Wise Old Cat Dishes some Holiday Cheer

2010-11-16T10:30:00.002-05:00

Mom's Choice Awards winner Keith Ramundo, CEO of Nick the Cat, LLC, sent us a quick note to share his exciting news about his Nick the Wise Old Cat picture book series.

Susan Lucci - she of All My Children fame - wrote about Nick's new Holiday Book on her website. She lets all of her visitors know that when they purchase Nick's Holiday Celebration (Nick the Wise Old Cat: Importance of Family), a portion of the proceeds are donated to the Thomas Hartman Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

Nick's Holiday Celebration (Nick the Wise Old Cat: Importance of Family)
written by Linda Sicks
illustrated by Dave Messing
(Atlas Books, 2010)

You can read the book online here.

http://www.nickthecat.com/

From the Mailbox: Keeping Families Connected with HeroConnect

2010-11-11T08:30:00.000-05:00

Mom's Choice Awards honoree Maria T. DiVencenzo recently sent us a note about HeroConnect, a project she's been working on for the past year. "over the past few months dozens of dedicated, talented, super smart people stepped up to make magic happen. Professors, US Naval commanders, designers, high school students, broadcast news anchors, editors, CEOs, retired US Air Force colonels, baseball buddies, exhausted husbands -- the list goes on and on -- all contributed their time and talents in the hope of making a difference for the military families who sacrifice so much for our nation."

HeroConnect Corporation is a non-profit organization that provides services and support for the families of US military service members deployed overseas or otherwise separated from their families due to mission responsibilities.

Throughout the fall of 2010, HeroConnect will create personalized storybook gift packages to ship to the children of deployed soldiers during the holidays--at no cost to the soldiers or their families. Here's how it works. Deployed service members register with HeroConnect. They create and upload recordings of themselves reading one HeroConnect book. Then HeroConnect creates a personalized gift package with the book itself and a CD of the recording. and sends to the service member's family.

There are two books available for recording: Maria's multi-award-winning book The Star of Christmas, and her just-released picture book, The Scariest Dream Ever.

To help introduce the concept to the public, the staff at HeroConnect have created a series of short videos. Each offers a little different perspective on the why's and how's of the program. Some - like this one - with a touch of humor.

You can learn more about the program - and sponsor a family - by visiting the HeroConnect website. www.heroconnect.org or via these YouTube videos.

Start Your Holiday Savings Now with the Mom's Choice Awards

2010-11-10T15:24:00.000-05:00

Are you looking at your budget and wondering how you're going to make it all balance out ... you want to promote your great product and service, but you have to make the most of those marketing dollars.

Well, we can help. The Mom's Choice Awards is a first-in-class program for helping you promote your award-winning product. From now through November 30, 2010, you can save $100 on an entry fee. We have a special promotional code, but the only way to get it is through one of these portals:

Honorees ... join us on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter and you can save 15% on any webstore purchase. It can be used toward a webinar, like the upcoming seminar with Jenny Finke of Red Jeweled Media: 10 Ideas To Maximize Your Exposure During The Holidays.

Some restrictions apply, see the website for details.

Alumni Spotlight on Tina Turbin, award-winning author of Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy

2010-11-03T12:19:00.000-04:00

Through her teenage years, college, married life, and raising kids, Tina's muse waited quietly. She knew she wanted to write ... she loved writing ... but it wasn't until her kids were grown that she really started to polish her craft.

Her experience in the entertainment industry, enhanced by her own success in running a studio, helped shape her direction. She knew she wanted to write for children to stretch, pull, push, and engage their imaginations. Her children's book, Danny the Dragon "Meets Jimmy," shows kids (and their parents) just how powerful a story can be. She has used traditional media and is pushing the envelope with Apps to ensure that Danny and Jimmy can go anywhere our kids go.

Please welcome Tina Turbin to the Spotlight.

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Congatulations Honorees - October 2010

2010-11-01T10:30:00.098-04:00

Congratulations and Welcome
October 2010 Alumni class!

The Mom's Choice Awards is honored to present this group of authors, businesses, creators, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who have created the best-of-the-best in family friendly media and services.

We're On Television - AGAIN! Mom's Choice Award Mentioned on Home Shopping Network

2010-10-27T13:05:00.000-04:00

In case you missed it ... HSN had a Premiere show with Mom's Choice Awards honoree American Girl Crafts™ today. The first show aired at 11:AM (Eastern; 10:AM Central) and it will be on again at 5:PM (Eastern; 4:PM Central)

Be sure to check out the videos with Meghan Toomey talking about the Starter Scrapbook Kit. [Click on the "video" link at the HSN page.]

You'll also find these award-winning products on the Home Shopping Network website ... where you can buy now (at the HSN price) or add it to your wishlist.

American Girl Crafts™ Tie-Together Frames Kit

American Girl Crafts™Creative Room Pockets Kit

Alumni Spotlight on Children's Picture Book creators Ed Shankman and Dave O'Neill

2010-10-27T10:13:00.002-04:00

There is no mistaking how much Ed Shankman and Dave O'Neill enjoy being "childish." It's also not hard to see how they've brought their loves of rhyming text and bright colors from their youth to the picture books they now create for kids.

And I'm sure it wouldn't surprise you to learn that they both have backgrounds in marketing, promotion, design. But it MAY surprise you to learn that one is the member of an improv comedy troupe, and the other is a musician ... but then again, maybe not. Please welcome Ed, Dave, and their animated friends to the Spotlight!

Alumni Spotlight on Michael Plaksin and ATP Electronic's Award-Winning Product Sesame Street Video USB Drive

2010-10-25T14:31:00.014-04:00

Michael Plaksin is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for ATP Electronics, a company with nearly 20 years of experience in designing and manufacturing high-performance electronics. Their products have application in various industries ... and at home, too. "Sesame Street" is a household name (even if you don't have kids!), and ATP Electronics created and now manufactures the Sesame Street Video USB, which recently earned GOLD in our Electronic Learning category.

Please welcome Michael Plaksin to the spotlight.

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Alumni Spotlight on Michael Baker and the Critical Thinking Company

2010-10-21T10:30:00.001-04:00

Fifty years ago, Michael Baker's grandfather, John had an idea: he founded Midwest Publications. The company produced math and textbooks that combined powerful logic with high educational standards. The company now called The Critical Thinking Co.™, remains family owned. The company boasts more than 200 titles to help students with math, reading, writing, science, and history.

MCA: Can you please tell us about the inspiration for your Building Thinking Skills® software?
Michael: We take great pride in igniting a passion for thinking and problem solving. Building Thinking Skills® software was inspired by our bestselling activity book - the #1 selling thinking skills program in the world. Customers inquired about a software version for years. Dr. Cognito, the main character, was envisioned by our creative software team.

MCA: What are your goals for Building Thinking Skills Level 2 in the next year?

Michael: We want to introduce the software to more public schools throughout the United States. We also hope to launch a subscription portal, including Building Thinking Skills® software and many others, so customers may play on demand via the Internet.

MCA: If someone gave you air time for a 15-second commercial, how would you entice people to try the Building Thinking Skills® software?

Michael: Recently honored with a Dr. Toy and Mom's Choice Award®, Building Thinking Skills® software helps kids build the confidence to succeed in school and in life. The arcade-style software game provides highly effective verbal and nonverbal reasoning activities to improve vocabulary, reading, writing, math, logic, and figural spatial skills, as well as visual and auditory processing. This exceptional computer delivered skill set provides a solid foundation for academic excellence and success on any assessment test. In the educational software adventure, players become critical thinkers by completing verbal and figural activities in each of the 10 underground levels to rescue Dr. Cognito and restore order to the lab.

MCA: You started with an idea and now have a successful, multi-award-winning product. Looking back on your journey, what was the easiest part? The hardest? What surprised you the most?
Michael: With 10 levels and tons of different activity types, the software was not easy to develop. Due to the diverse nature of the content, coming up with a unifying theme was also challenging. During our research, we were surprised to see that our competitors used so few activity types, since the more diverse the activities, the more engaged the player, typically.

MCA: Since launching the Building Thinking Skills product, what has been your most rewarding experience in promoting or sharing it with the public? Do you have a favorite memory?

Michael: The fact that the software instantly became a top seller is thoroughly rewarding, though we really love the fact that kids with diverse abilities enjoy the software. My favorite memory is about a child on the Autism spectrum. His mother said he had a brilliant mind for facts and figures, but always struggled with his thought process. In her testimonial, she said that Building Thinking Skills had given him solid direction in organizing his thoughts and following logical patterns.

"The progress my son has made in barely one year is incredible. No therapy or modification has come close to having such an impact in the 6 years since his diagnosis. There are no words to express how thankful we are for The Critical Thinking Co."

MCA: Could you please tell us why you chose the Mom’s Choice Awards® program in seeking recognition for Building Thinking Skills®?
Michael: Mothers rule the marketplace. The Mom's Choice Awards® program has been leading thoughtful moms to great products for years!

MCA: What does it mean to you to be a Mom’s Choice Awards® alumnus?
Michael: It means we are among a prestigious group of publishers and our material provides incredible value for families.

MCA: What did you learn about yourself in the process of creating your award-winning product?

Michael: We frequently underestimate our deadlines.

MCA: Would you recommend the Mom’s Choice Awards® to other entrepreneurs? If so, why?
Michael: Yes, there are only a handful of truly meaningful awards in the education market, the Mom's Choice Awards® is one publishers should not miss.

MCA: How have you/your company benefited by being a Mom’s Choice Awards® honoree? Do you have any tangible examples?
Michael: We've had several customers comment on the award over the phone and when ordering. We know the awards helps close sales and reassure customers of our value.

Mom's Choice Awards® Honors

Building Thinking Skills Level 2
The Critical Thinking Co™

Gold Recipient - Grades 4 to 6, software

Social Networking Contacts for The Critical Thinking Co.™

Alumni Spotlight on Tina L. Christiansen

2010-10-14T13:44:00.001-04:00

The Alumni Spotlight is a periodic feature on the official Mom’s Choice Awards® blog. It is part of our ongoing effort to “shine the spotlight” on you and your award-winning, family-friendly products, services, and media.

MCA: Welcome to the Spotlight, Susan and Tina. We're glad you could join us today. Could you please tell us about the inspiration for Maya's Journey Home?
Susan: The inspiration for our book came from the real-life Maya, who like the baby in the book, needed a mother and found just the right one for her.

MCA: What are your goals for your book in the next year?
Tina: We hope to get this story out there. Our goal is to give adopted children a book in which they see their story reflected. We would like to make adoption less of a mystery, and show that it all comes down to love, no matter if you look like your parents or not.

MCA: If someone gave you air time for a 15-second commercial, how would you entice people to read Maya's Journey Home?
Susan: I would give a short summary of the plot of the book, why it’s a great addition to anyone’s library, show some of the pictures, and tell why it’s so important.

MCA: You started with an idea and now have a successful, award-winning book. Looking back on your journey, what was the easiest part? The hardest? What surprised you the most?
Tina: I'll take this one. The easiest part was the basic idea for the story, since it had special meaning and is based on a real experience. The hardest part was making every word count and showing (visually) the feeling we were trying to portray.

What surprised me the most was how well the pictures told the story of the book, meshing with the feelings involved, leading it toward the happy ending.

MCA: Since launching your book, what has been your most rewarding experience in promoting or sharing it with the public? Do you have a favorite memory?
Susan: My school visits have been the most rewarding. Being able to share it with children and see their joy as they hope Maya gets adopted. The positive feedback also has been rewarding. When you start the process, you have no idea how it’s going to work out and the end product was amazing.

MCA: Could you please tell us why you chose the Mom’s Choice Awards® program in seeking recognition for your book?
Tina: We have always known our book was a great one for families of adoption. The Mom’s Choice Awards® seemed like a natural fit. Our goal is to reach those moms who can relate to the adoptive journey, and the Mom’s Choice Awards® gives us an opportunity to share it with them. It lets the moms know that yes, other moms like the book too, its quality has beeen validated, and you should check it out.

MCA: What does it mean to you to be a Mom’s Choice Awards® alumnus?
Susan: It means that people have seen what we saw all along – that Maya’s Journey Home is great for families. It reaches people whether they have adopted or not, because the main theme is unconditional love.

MCA: What did you learn about yourself in the process of creating your award-winning book?
Tina: I learned that a message can be communicated in many ways, such as in words and pictures. Also, I learned that you have to check over your work very carefully, and many times, to get it just right.

MCA: Would you recommend the Mom’s Choice Awards® to other entrepreneurs? If so, why?
Susan: Yes, I would recommend this program to others. The Mom’s Choice Awards® exemplify quality. An award helps people trying to make decisions for their families cut to the chase. Knowing that a qualified panel of judges has already critiqued the item for the same standards I would have, is a great help when I am figuring out what to buy.

MCA: How has Suitemates Publishing benefited by being a Mom’s Choice Awards® honoree? Do you have any tangible examples?
Tina: Our company takes pride in this book, but knowing that we received a Mom’s Choice Award® has brought more pride for our product. We have benefited in sales, which is great, but knowing that we have a quality product is more important. Our message has reached people who might have overlooked us before.

Mom's Choice Awards® Honors
Maya’s Journey Home

by Susan E. Lindsley and Tina L. Christiansen
illustrated by Wendy M. Cannon
Suitemates Publishing Company, 2008

2010 Silver Recipient - Children’s Picture Book, Family Life

Contact and Connect with Susan and Tina

Alumni Spotlight on Molly Roe and Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires

2010-10-07T09:52:00.006-04:00

Mary Garrity Slaby's time in the classroom has made one thing clear: kids want books with lots of action. As an author she wanted to create something that would keep teens reading, give them the adventure they seek, AND offer some educational value to. Her historical fiction series Meeting the MollyMaguires blends classic storytelling with fast-paced plots that engage readers of all ages. The first book, Call Me Kate, is set in the Civil War Era. She writes under the pen name of Molly Roe.

Please welcome Mary to the Spotlight.

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Congratulations Honorees - September 2010

2010-10-01T11:00:00.001-04:00

Congratulations and Welcome
September 2010 Alumni class!

The Mom's Choice Awards is honored to present this group of authors, businesses, creators, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who have created the best-of-the-best in family friendly media and services.

Alumni Spotlight on Sukey's Circle

2010-09-28T10:15:00.003-04:00

The Alumni Spotlight is a periodic feature on the official Mom's Choice Awards® blog. It is part of our ongoing effort to "shine the spotlight" on you and your award-winning, family-friendly products, services, and media.

We're excited to introduce you to Nancy Ferst (right) and Sukey Molloy. Through Sukey's Mommy and Me classes
Nancy and Sukey became friends. Their collaboration resulted in Sukey's Circle, a DVD not only for engaging your kids in fun activities, but getting you up with them. So we better get moving, too ... Please welcome Nancy to the Spotlight.

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From the Mailbox: Beautiful Moon / Bella Luna Selected by Read On Wisconsin

2010-09-21T10:30:00.000-04:00

Diane Bergeron of Raven Tree Press, the premier publisher of bilingual children's picture books, recently sent us a note about yet another accolade for one of its books.

Already a Mom's Choice Awards® winner (Gold - Bilingual Books) and a finalist National Best Book Awards (NBBA), Beautiful Moon / Bella Luna has just been selected as the featured January book for the Primary group of Read On Wisconsin!

Read On Wisconsin! is a statewide book club for students and book-lovers. It is sponsored by Wisconsin's First Lady, Jessica Doyle. An advisory committee comprising teachers, librarians, and students from across Wisconsin select the books that are to be featured. In addition, visitors can go to the The Read On Wisconsin! There, they will learn more about the featured books and can also exchange ideas. For example, students can submit reviews or discuss books through an online web log. Teachers can review lesson plans and post comments about the books through the Teacher Resource page.

There are multiple versions of the book, including English only, Spanish only, and bilingual. Formats include hardcover, paperback, and interactive (iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch). Visit www.raventreepress.com to learn more.

Other Mom's Choice Awards® winners by Raven Tree Press

A Walk With Grandpa by Sharon Soloman; Illustrated by Pamela Barcita
Gold Recipient: Crossing Generations

Marco Flamingo by Sheila Jarkins
Silver Recipient: Adventure, Adventurers & Heroes

From the Mailbox: Mom's Choice Awards is for Cool (Wise) Cats!

2010-09-14T11:00:00.002-04:00

Isn't that just a lovely image? One of our favorite "jobs" is sending out that email that tells a nominee that his/her product has earned a Mom's Choice Awards®. Over the years we have gotten lots of thank yous, but a personalized picture ... well that's a first.

What got those cats purring? Well, Nick the Wise Old Cat - Series 1: The Importance of Family picture book series recently earned gold! So did The Animated Adventures Of Series 1 - The Importance Of Family (DVD) and The Complete Reading Of Series 1 - The Importance Of Family (CD) From the team at Nick the Cat, LLC:

"We are absolutely honored, pleased, and excited with this prestigious award and working with the Mom's Choice Awards® in elevating the children and parent's awareness of Nick the Wise Old Cat and the value messages that he shares with all. Let me begin this great relationship with the MCA by providing you with an illustration that warmly puts the award in the context of the characters who have truly won it."

Well, isn't that the cat's meow! So what's next for Nick the Wise Old Cat? Well, he's launches Series 2: The Importance of Friendship with the title How Different is Good in late September. In October 2010, he has a holiday title coming out, Nick's Holiday Celebration (Nick the Wise Old Cat: Importance of Family).

From the Mailbox: Kiki Magazine

2010-09-07T11:03:00.001-04:00

As many of you know, our Mom's Choice Awards® honorees are alumni, not just the people who won in a given awards cycle. We continue to correspond regularly, and many continue to share their news with us.

As our MCA family has grown, so have the opportunities to share with you what our honorees are doing. Now, we can't talk about every piece of news, but when something big comes along, well, we'll pull it from the Mailbox and share it with you ... so you can share it with your friends, too.

Here's what we discovered in Kiki Notes, the newsletter of Kiki Magazine.

Kiki proudly announced its partnership with We Are Teachers (WAT)! Kiki is sponsoring WAT's all-new Girls Inspired community and a micro-grant just for teachers!

By partnering with WAT, Kiki is providing a forum for exchanging and discussing ideas, sharing resources, and promoting emotional and creative growth in students.
Check out WAT's brand new site, and stay tuned to learn more about the Girls Inspired community and other exciting resources and offerings from Kiki!
Submit your idea now for a chance to win $200 and an iPod Nano or Flip Video Camera!

Team Kiki wants to be the best it can be ... and offer that to you. To do that, they need your input: What do you like about Kiki? What do you dislike? They have designed a five minute, seven question survey to give them some feedback on how they aree doing! Your answers will help us make Kiki the best it can be!

You can also be part of Kiki's online communities by sharing cool happenings and ideas on their pages! From the newsletter: We're working hard on the Winter issue and can't believe it's time to pull together the cover again. Join our Facebook community and follow us on Twitter for sneak peaks of cover ideas as we work on them!"

Congratulations Honorees - August 2010

2010-09-02T14:37:00.001-04:00

As you may remember from earlier this year, the Mom's Choice Awards® launched a new era and has moved to an open cycle. This is great news because it allows us to celebrate and recognize the best in family friendly media all year long, not just in a specific season.

It does, however, make it a little bit harder for you to keep up with who our new honorees are. Beginning with our August 2010 honorees, we are going to publish the list of newest Mom's Choice Awards® winners here on the blog. You can see their award-winning products in our slide show, and a list of all honorees below that.

We hope you'll drop a line here to welcome them to the Mom's Choice Awards® family and/or stop by their blogs/website to congratulate them on winning this most prestigious honor.

Mom's Choice Awards ABCs: Join the Conversation

2010-07-25T15:38:00.000-04:00

Do you have an ice breaker? When you walk into a room filled with people you don't know, how do you start the conversation? Do you ask the questions or do you wait until they ask you one. If you're at a conference and a session isn't what you thought, do you hang around or leave?

When it comes to face-to-face encounters, we all have tried and true methods that work for us. But when we shift to online communities, sometimes we don't know where to begin.

The subject of my first ABCs column was the importance of reading what your peers and industry experts are saying. More specifically, the post was about stepping into the blogosphere and reading what other people are writing. Essentially, the "A" of our ABCs ... getting acclimated.

Now, with 90 days experience, it's time to take the next step ... becoming a participant. No matter what platform you use - blog, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Ning, Goodreads, etc. - it is important that you not only follow the conversation, but also contribute to it. Did someone write a post that you think is interesting ... leave a comment! Are you interested in learning about trends in book publishing? Then become a member of a group.

By engaging in the conversation, you are de facto promoting yourself, even if you never mention your book or product. Odds are pretty good that when you become a regular commenter or conversationalist, people will start coming back to your site to see what you are talking about and/or doing. Real world or online, it's about building an audience ... and connections are audiences.

Here are a few final tips.

Start small. Join a group and/or start one in a medium you already use. If your a Goodreads author, then search for groups related to what you write about.

Listen First. Follow the group for a bit to get a sense of its personality. If the "vibe" fits for you, then introduce yourself. If not, then politely and quietly "leave the room."

Balance your time. In the end, it all comes back to time. If you don't have time to "make the rounds" to each of your groups everyday, then have the updates to the message boards sent to your mailbox. It is easy to control the number of updates you get, and if it turns out that over time the group is taking too much time, then you can stop being a member.

Like personal connections, it is important to always be polite, professional, and courteous. But unlike those face-to-face encounters, it is also easier to walk away when something doesn't work for you. So talk with some of your fellow honorees ... where are the virtual water coolers they hang out?

Alumni Spotlight on David Smith and Spirit Clips

2010-07-16T16:44:00.002-04:00

Never heard of Spirit Clips? Well, you are in for a treat! Robert N. Fried, who founded the project, believes that the world wants - and needs - more thoughtful, uplifting visual content. SpiritClips.com is a subscription website (free and premium memberships) that allow members to not only view ad-free, uplifting stories, but also share them as "film cards."

Given that Rob is an is an Academy-award winning producer in Los Angeles, CA, it should come as no surprise that Spirit Clips is quickly establishing itself as the benchmark in this niche of the film/social media industry. In addition to its recent Mom's Choice Award, Spirit Clips also earned two First Place Silver awards at the 30th Annual Telly Awards.

Please welcome Robert Fried to the Spotlight.

MCA: Rob, thanks for joining us today. Can you please tell us about the inspiration for SpiritClips?

Rob: In 2002, a friend sent me a touching email story about a little girl seeking to purchase a miracle to save her younger brother who was very ill. It occurred to me at the time that this beautiful story could make a terrific animated short film - one that would not only entertain, but also inspire. In 2006, I went back to that idea and when the Internet boom hit, I saw an opportunity to form a venture devoted to sharing the messages of such stories through film. SpiritClips.com is that endeavor, and "The Price of Miracles" is the SpiritClips film based upon that email.

Over the past 25 years, I have been fortunate to work on numerous Hollywood films, including the inspirational sports-themed feature films “Rudy” and “Hoosiers.” I have also very much enjoyed making shorts films and was fortunate to win an Academy Award for one I produced called “Session Man.” I have always believed that it was possible to create the magic of full length film in a series of 2 to 5 minutes films. Spiritclips is that endeavor.

MCA: What are your goals for your online resource in the next year?
Rob: SpiritClips endeavors to create high-quality moving short films and video cards. In addition to making our films available online, we are expanding into retail DVD distribution and educational/religious study materials.

MCA: If someone gave you air time for a 15-second commercial, how would you entice people to visit the SpiritClips site?
Rob: I’d show highlights from the SpiritClips collection.

MCA: You started with an idea and now have a successful, award-winning website. Looking back on your journey, what was the easiest part? The hardest? What surprised you the most?

Rob: Although it is time consuming to put in the attention to detail that is our standard, creating great films is probably the easiest part of the process. The hardest part is coordinating film production with website development. The other challenge is one that most emerging products feel, which is to get the word out about our great films and site.

Thankfully in addition to our own efforts, our members and fans help us do that every day. The most surprising part has been has been the universal appeal of our films. In February 2010, for example, we had site visitors from 164 countries/territories!

MCA: Wow, that's amazing. Since launching SpiritClips, what has been your most rewarding experience in promoting or sharing it with the public? Do you have a favorite memory?
Rob: The most rewarding thing has been the impact our films have made on the lives of our viewers. We receive daily emails from members thanking us for inspiring them or giving them hope or perspective. It is very gratifying.

MCA: Could you please tell us why you chose the Mom’s Choice Awards® program in seeking recognition for SpiritClips?

Rob: Our members are idealistic people who like to see the positive in life and deal with life’s tribulations with strong spirit and hope– basically, good moms. We are glad that there is an entity devoted to helping mom’s make good choices as moms.

MCA: What does it mean to you to be a Mom’s Choice Awards® alumnus?

Rob: My proudest achievement is being a parent. So to be honored by a parent-focused award means a great deal to me. My wife and I have two wonderful children, now ages 12 and 8. Together, we spend each day striving to teach them consistent values, provide meaning to their lives, and inspire them as they grow up. We hope that the messages about character and strength of human spirit that embody SpiritClips reflect the behaviors and attitudes towards life that our kids - and kids everywhere - might choose to emulate.

MCA: What did you learn about yourself in the process of creating your award-winning informational resource?
Rob: Like so many things in life, the joy of creating is about the journey, not simply the destination. This is very true at SpiritClips.

MCA: Would you recommend the Mom’s Choice Awards® to other entrepreneurs? If so, why?
Rob: I would recommend the Mom’s Choice Awards to entrepreneurs who believe that the values reflected in good parenting are consistent with the values of their endeavor.

MCA: How have you and Spirit EMX benefited by being a Mom’s Choice Awards® honoree? Do you have any tangible examples?
Rob: Having only recently won the award, we have just begun to benefit from being a recognized Mom’s Choice Gold Award winner. We look forward to meeting other alumni in person at future Mom’s Choice represented conventions. There’s one coming up this summer in St. Louis that is already marked on our calendar!

Mom's Choice Awards® Honors

Product/Service Name: Spirit Clips

Producer: Spirit EMX, LLC

2010 – Gold, Online Resources

Contact and Connect with David Smith and Spirit EMX

MCA Honoree Debra Gano is Making a Differeince with her OWN Television Show

2010-07-01T12:49:00.001-04:00

In 2009, the first book in Debra Gano's Heartlight Girls Series earned a Mom's Choice Award in the Juvenile Books Level 2 (ages 9 to 12), Mind, Spirit and Body category. She is continuing with her quest to change lives for girls with a new television show Empowering Girls - From the Inside Out.

Debra has entered her show into Oprah Winfrey's competition to bring inspiring and positive television programs to our kids. She has created an audition video, and now needs your help to get Oprah's attention. She needs your vote to become one of the finalists.

"Many people got their videos in early and/or have lots of friends/family voting for them all day, so it's going to take not just me, but a village (a.k.a. YOU!) to help make this show a possible finalist." says Debra. She is asking friends, family, and her Facebook and Twitter subsribers to vote as many times as you can between now and Saturday, when votes close. There is no limit to the number of times you can vote, and since it only takes three seconds to cast a vote, you can make a big difference in just a little bit of time.

Debra asks that you please leave a comment as well so that the producers can see that there is an n enthusiastic audience for this show!

Click here to vote for Debra and Empowering Girls - From the Inside Out.

"
Having this show happen could be a win-win for many of us, not even to mention how many girls, women, and parents it will reach and affect," Debra enthusiastically proclaims. "Please see the value in this for all and jump on the bandwagon this week ok? I SO very much appreciate all of your support! Thank you so much,."

Alumni Spotlight on Sheila Kilpatrick author of Anastasia Pickering, Anastasia's Rain

2010-06-29T10:30:00.002-04:00

The Alumni Spotlight is a periodic feature on the official Mom’s Choice Awards® blog. It is part of our ongoing effort to “shine the spotlight” on you and your award-winning, family-friendly products, services, and media.

In May 2010, her article "How to Write a Children's Book" was published in Alt Daily.

MCA: Hi Sheila, welcome to the Spotlight! Can you please tell us about the inspiration for your Anastasia Pickering book?
Sheila: Sure. My niece Sarah and nephew Will inspired the books. Watching their points of view with the innocence of a two-year-old reminded me that every day we can choose how we want to see things. WE decide it if will be from a positive perspective or a negative one. They treated summer rain showers as a sprinkler, not as a reason to run inside. They provided me with the seed, and over time Anastasia’s story was born.

MCA: What are your goals for your Anastasia's Rain in the next year?
Sheila: My goal is to market this book to the best of my ability. I want to make enough money to pay all the fees that are involved in self publishing and publish book two. Of course, I am always looking for standard publishing opportunities as well. I honestly believe the life lessons in my books are helpful to children. Just having discussions with them after reading in schools proves to me I am on the right track.

MCA: If someone gave you air time for a 15-second commercial, how would you entice people to read Anastasia Pickering, Anastasia's Rain?

Sheila: I would ask parents to stop for a minute and think about one question. “Knowing your most important job in the world is to do a the best job possible in raising your children, how many times do you just manage to get through the day. Our lives have become so rushed and many times at best all we have time to do is to get through homework and read our children a bedtime story or have them read one as a way to end the day. Anastasia’s “Thinking in the Rain” adventure stories are an enjoyable way share a life lesson with your children and not have it taste like medicine!”

MCA: You started with an idea and now have a successful, award-winning children's book. Looking back on your journey, what was the easiest part? The hardest? What surprised you the most?
Sheila: Looking back, developing the idea and reading my manuscript to a local third grade class was the easiest. Those third graders gave me lots of feedback and even illustrated their ideas of my characters. I appreciated their involvement so much that I included their pictures in the back of my book.

The hardest part was putting the actual book together and going through the publishing process. In self-publishing everything is left up to the author. So being the Type A personality that I am, I wanted it to be as perfect as possible. I was so fortunate to have a great editor and very talented illustrator.

Being honored with the Mom’s Choice Award® was my biggest surprise…a fantastic surprise indeed!

MCA: Since launching your Anastasia's Rain, what has been your most rewarding experience in promoting or sharing it with the public? Do you have a favorite memory?

Sheila: I get to relive my most enjoyable experience every time I read my book to children at schools or other venues. We talk about the lesson of the book afterward, and I love hearing their perspectives and stories.

One of my favorite memories was when Will decided Anastasia Pickering needed a shorter name and announced it should be Pickles. At that moment, her nickname was born!

MCA: Could you please tell us why you chose the Mom’s Choice Awards® program in seeking recognition for your children's picture book?
Sheila: I chose Mom’s Choice because it is an award program of high standards. The company puts a strong emphasis on celebrating family-friendly media and that is important to me. The Mom’s Choice Awards® also has a very strong reputation for excellence.

MCA: What does it mean to you to be a Mom’s Choice Awards® alumnus?
Sheila: To be a part of the Mom’s Choice Awards® family is a true honor. I realize I may have new opportunities due to the credibility of this awards program, but the full scope of being an honoree may be ahead and I really look forward to it!

MCA: What did you learn about yourself in the process of creating your award-winning book?

Sheila: Writing a book was a huge learning experience and it was not easy. I had to practice what I preached (patience) for two and a half years, but it was well worth it in the end. I discovered just how determined I am. Having an already-published, lifelong friend as my editor and a brilliant illustrator was invaluable. Harmony definitely existed among us in this project and it kept me focused.

MCA: Would you recommend the Mom’s Choice Awards® to other entrepreneurs? If so, why?
Sheila: I would recommend Mom’s Choice Awards® to other entrepreneurs. It is such a worthy recognition and will be so invaluable in promoting your product.

MCA: How have you benefited by being a Mom’s Choice Awards® honoree? Do you have any tangible examples?
Sheila: Being an MCA honoree allowed me to attend BookExpo America in New York City last month. I cannot thank you enough for the opportunity. It was a great experience! I also sent out press releases announcing my award and was given the opportunity to publish some articles online because of it. I have recently been asked to create a cooperative children's story with the readers of an online newspaper because of the credibility from this award. I am totally sold on the value of MCA.

MCA: Thanks for stopping by today, Sheila. We look forward to seeing what's next for Anastasia Pickering!

Mom's Choice Awards® Honors

Anastasia Pickering, Anastasia’s Rain
written by Sheila Kilpatrick
illustrated by Perry Delglandon

Author House 2009

2010 - Silver, Children’s Books (Values and Life Lessons)

Contact and Connect with Sheila Kilpatrick

Alumni Spotlight on Jeanne Gehret

2010-06-22T10:30:00.000-04:00

Jeanne Gehret describes herself as a lifelong writer. Her first works were lost not because the dog ate them, or even the computer ... it was because she wrote them in pencil! Just as her brother had warned her, over the years they had faded from the paper she'd written them on, lost forever. As she got older, Jeanne's work moved from poems and stories to more technical writing. She worked for a civil engineering firm, where she wrote their publicity announcements.

When she became a mom, she became a freelance author so that she could stay home with her two children. In 1990, inspired by her son's efforts to work through his learning disabilities, she began writing children's stories to show kids - and their parents - that success is possible for every child.

Please welcome Jeanne Gehret.

MCA: Can you please tell us about the inspiration for The Coping Series of children's picture books?

Jeanne: Our five-year-old son was struggling in school and unhappy at home because of learning disabilities (LD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Once we understood his problems, we knew what to do. He began behavioral therapy, we modified his educational plan, and also got counseling. As he improved, we became a much happier family. Unfortunately, it took us a long time to discover the source of the problems and how the school system worked, so we had many months of misery.

After talking with other families in similar situations, I discovered that our struggle to find answers was very common, and I set out to make others’ journey easier. My books provide simple language for parents to explain difficult brain-theory concepts to kids so youngsters can more effectively participate in their new programs at school and at home. They also promote understanding of invisible learning and attention problems among non-impaired classmates.

MCA: What are your goals for The Coping Series in the next year?
Jeanne: Here are the changes I’d like to see as a result of reading my books. For kids who have LD and ADD, I want them to know they are not alone and feel there is hope that they can improve. For parents, I want them to have more confidence when discussing these issues with their children and school personnel. It is also important for these kids' classmates to understand and relate to these kids’ challenges and show more patience. .

So often kids with ADD and LD react to their difficulties by lashing out, withdrawing, or pretending the disabilities aren’t there. This pushes others away and makes the child with the problem lonelier than ever. By presenting the stories from the kids’ point of view with the accompanying emotions, I’m trying to help parents and classmates empathize with them.

MCA: If someone gave you air time for a 15-second commercial, how would you entice people to read The Coping Series?
Jeanne: For a child, the hardest part about having a learning disability or attention deficit disorder is feeling all alone. Three new picture books—The Don’t-give-up Kid, Eagle Eyes, and Houdini’s Gift—inspire youngsters with learning and behavior problems to understand themselves and use their strengths to create a better future. Recently awarded the Mom’s Choice Award®, this series by Verbal Images Press is loved by families and endorsed by professionals. Within the pages of these books kids will find quirky characters and cartoon-like drawings that entice them to pay attention to these stories designed to heal their hearts. Order at Amazon.com.

MCA: You started with an idea and now have a successful, award-winning Coping Series. Looking back on your journey, what was the easiest part? The hardest? What surprised you the most?

Jeanne: The easiest part was writing the first draft. The story just flowed out of me, perhaps because I’d been making up bedtime stories for my two children for so long. The first challenge came with the editing process. Six hundred words is an ideal length for a picture book, but my rough draft of Eagle Eyes had 1,500 words. Ultimately I had to leave out whole concepts and then fine-tune the manuscript word by word. I had great fun playing off the artwork so that at times the pictures carried the message and other times the words took the lead. For me, this interplay was especially important because the LD kids who read my books are often reluctant readers who are visual learners, so they get more from pictures than from words.

The hardest part was relying on internet connections to communicate with artists and designers in other cities. During our previous 20 years of publishing picture books, we always conducted this part of the work face-to-face. For me, the new technologies made things harder, not easier.

The most surprising - and horrifying - thing was to open the first printing only to have spots all over the illustrations. Fortunately, it was a very small print run and we were able to correct all the imperfections. That’s when I actually met the illustrator and vowed that in the future I will resume having a more personal connection with the person who puts my dream into pictures.

MCA: Since launching The Coping Series, what has been your most rewarding experience in promoting or sharing it with the public? Do you have a favorite memory?
Jeanne: Earning five stars on Amazon is pretty cool! So is getting good reviews from people who really know these kids, magazines like Exceptional Parent, Attention, and ADDitude. Most personally rewarding was the morning I shared The Don’t-give-up Kid with a class of fourth-graders. Every teacher knows who I’m referring to when I mention the boy whose hand shot up in the air every time I asked a question, who waved his hand persistently until I either called on him or asked him to put it down. He mentioned all the visual cues I had designed into the illustrations that had no verbal descriptions, and his many comments showed that he completely understood and related to the story.

Later, his teacher told me that boy seldom sits still for stories because he has attention problems. All my hard work paid off in this one child who truly “got” my work. Dozens of messages from parents have been affirming, too—comments like “You’ve described my child so accurately” and “My child won’t go to sleep without first having your book read to her” let me know it’s all been worthwhile. Finally, seeing my books recommended time and again by teachers, social workers, pediatricians, and even college professors of special education let me know I’m on the right track.

MCA: Could you please tell us why you chose the Mom’s Choice Awards® program in seeking recognition for The Coping Series?
Jeanne: If I had known about Mom’s Choice when our son was first diagnosed, we would have been able to get help for him sooner. There are so many products and services out there today that parents can be overwhelmed with choices. It is great to have access to a list that has been screened by such an eminent group of judges.

MCA: What does it mean to you to be a Mom’s Choice Awards® alumnus?
Jeanne: Our books are represented by one of the most prominent distributors who carry books by independent presses. Knowing that twice a year they update their catalogs and sales reps, I’m aware of how important it is to keep them interested in our books. When I told them that our entire series had won the Mom’s Choice Award®, they sat up and took notice. They told me that was a very good award because it went to so many parenting magazines. In addition to that, I am, quite simply, honored to have my books selected for recognition by parents, children, and such eminent people as the creator of Reading Rainbow, Dr. Twila Liggitt.

MCA: What did you learn about yourself in the process of creating your award-winning children's book series?
Jeanne: Although I have been writing and publishing for years, the technological aspects of creating this series presented me with obstacles I’d never faced before. There were many times when I wanted to give up, but I was fueled by a white-hot passion to help families as we had been helped. Trudging through the challenges one by one made me realize just how strong I am, and fans this crazy desire I have to birth another book that I believe in.

MCA: Would you recommend the Mom’s Choice Awards® to other entrepreneurs? If so, why?
Jeanne: I am proud to display the beautiful award seal on my books, website, and Facebook. In addition, many marketing opportunities become available as a result of being an honoree. For example, we have found cooperative mailings very helpful in the past, and Mom’s Choice Awards® Program offers special prices that are hard to beat.

MCA: How have you/your company benefited by being a Mom’s Choice Awards® honoree? Do you have any tangible examples?
Jeanne: Our distributor sent out a copy of the award announcement to all their sales reps and will note the award in their specialty catalogs to our niche markets. We have displayed the seal on our website, and I expect to see an increase in website traffic as a result of that and Facebook, Twitter, etc.

MCA: Jeanne, thank you for taking the time to tell us how your personal story inspired your series. We wish you, your family, and all the families you will help with this book the very best life has to offer.

Mom's Choice Awards® Honors
The Coping Series: The Don’t-give-up Kid and Learning Disabilities; Eagle Eyes, A Child’s Guide to Paying Attention; and Houdini’s Gift
Jeanne Gehret
illustrated by Michael LaDuca
Verbal Images Press, 2009

2010 Gold Recipient - Children's Picture Book, Series

Social Networking Contacts for Jeanne Gehret

MCA Honoree Dr. Brian G. Orr Invites You to Celebrate 10/10/10 In a Meaningful Way

2010-06-21T17:46:00.000-04:00

Mom's Choice Awards® alumni are some of the most giving, thoughtful people you'll ever meet. Brian G. Orr, MD, of Cape Ann Pediatricians in Gloucester, Massachusetts, is one of those people.

In 2009, Dr. Orr won a Silver in the Health, Nutrition, Fitness and Safety category for his book A Pediatrician's Journal: Caring for Children in a Broken Medical System.

He is also a passionate advocate for Friends of the Orphans (aka FriendsUS) a non-profit organization that supports nine orphanages in Latin America, South America, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. To celebrate his birthday on 10/10/10, he hopes to celebrate it with all of the children FriendsUS support. From the Friends website:

More than anything for his birthday, he wants donations to go to Friends of the Orphans to help the children of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH, Spanish for “Our Little Brothers and Sisters”). His goal is to have 10 x 10 x 10 people (1,000 total!) each contribute $10 by 10-10-10. Meeting that goal would mean $10,000!

You can follow Dr. Orr's progress by becoming a friend of Friends of the Orphans on their Facebook fan page and/or Twitter.

Let Your Expertise Help Other Families: Become a Mom's Choice Awards Judge

2010-06-18T14:18:00.001-04:00

The Mom's Choice Awards® is now accepting applications for judge candidates for the 2010 cycle. Currently, we need judges to evaluate family-friendly media and services in the following categories ...

Adoption
Connected Parenting
Parenting Through Divorce
Parenting Gifted Children
Dealing with Aging Parents
Tips For New Dads
Geek Dads
Anorexia Nervosa

If you have an expertise in one of these areas, we would love for you to join our esteemed panel of judges. If you have a family member, colleague, or professional contact in these areas of expertise, please feel free to pass this announcement on to them.

Please visit the Mom's Choice Awards® website to learn more about or best-in-class awards program and about our judging process.