Book Tour (review & guest blog post)Twee' and I Am Twee' by Susie Charon (Children's, Picture book, 10E/10E)

April 2013, Coda Grove Publishing, 25 pages, ebook & Paperback, Review copy

Themes: life for a tree, complaining all the time, being ungrateful, not seeing the positive side of a situation

Content: lots of laughs, a little embarrassment and fear

Summary from Susie's website

 Twee' is an adorable character, in the first allegorical picture book from Susie's "Between You And Me Series."She is a little pine tree who believes everything belongs to her - including the right to complain. When a boulder drops down unexpectedly in front of her and blocks her view, she is more than frustrated-she is stuck! Later a violent storm  alters her thinking and her feelings begin to change. Join Twee' as she makes this inward journey to learn about herself and how to relate to another who is different and separate but who has purpose, no matter how humble.  Twee' means you and me!

Nayuleska's thoughts 

This is a gem of a read! As you can see from the cover the illustrations are cute, and are also full of movement - when it rains on 'Twee I felt like the rain was moving on the page. It's a great idea to deal with the issue of being grateful through using a non-human life form, as a reader I wanted to bop Twee' on the head and tell her to stop being so fussy. It took a while but eventually she does see the blessings of what she has, instead of desiring what she doesn't have.

Suggested read

For other sweet tales with good morals check out The Fox and It by Beanie Lei (Children's, Picture book, 10E/10E)

I Am Twee'  

September 2013, Coda Grove Publishing, 24 pages, ebook & Paperback, review copy 

 

Themes: life as a tree, thinking of others, feeling that you have no special talent to help anyone 

Summary from Susie's website

Twee’ is a bit older now, but is she wiser?  In this second picture book-allegory from Susie’s “Between You And Me Series,” this young pine tree feels useless because she has nothing to share. Twee’ notices the apple trees in the valley, offer many gifts, which draw children and adults to visit them. However, the people don’t even see Twee’, and she begins to wish she were an apple tree. After many seasons, Twee’ is ready to give up, when an unusual event changes her mind. Join Twee’ as she journeys to discover that by being herself and different she has something special to contribute.

Nayuleska's thoughts 

Having met Twee' already in the first book (link in the suggested read below) I was super excited to see what would happen next in her life. I think that many readers will be able to relate to Twee's feelings of being no good to anyone - it takes others to show Twee' what she has to offer people. I cried when that moment came! I'm in love with the girl's cute outfit - all frilly & feminine. It goes to show that everyone has a special talent that helps brighten someone's life. 

Suggested read

Be sure to read Twee' which introduces Twee for the first time - she's quite a madam in the beginning! 

Guest Blog Post

I'd like to thank Susie for wanting to chat about the importance of reading aloud to children - I'm sure you'll find her post as interesting as I do. 

Susie E. Caron’s Bio:

Susie E. Caron M.A., a psychologist, entrepreneur, speaker, and author of Twee' and I Am Twee’, from the 'Between You and Me' series, draws from her years of experience to #Translate Childhood to Adults Who Care. In her allegory picture books for children and adults, she illustrates how our thoughts and feelings change and impact our relationships. Susie enjoys speaking and sharing with children and adults. Her unique gifts include her authentic presence, an ability to connect at the deepest levels of need and want and wisdom to share. In every endeavor, Susie helps kids and adults to enjoy each other by connecting with less frustration and with more personal freedom and fun! 

Find out more about Susie Caron and her books: http://www.SusieCaronOnAmazon.com. http://www.susiecaron.com. http://www.facebook.com/T.Twees. http://twitter.com/CGPsusiecaron. http://www.codagrovepsychotherapy.com.

Read to Children Daily for Multiple Benefits. by Susie E. Caron 

I write picture book allegories for children and adults. I also encourage parents to read aloud daily to their children because doing so provides intellectual, physical and emotional benefits. We parents and teachers often find it easy to read to our little ones. However, sometimes we slow down or stop reading to them when they begin to read to themselves. We enjoy how they become engrossed in a good book on their own. However, we shouldn’t stop reading to them. Our children’s intellectual, physical and emotional development is enhanced when we also read aloud to them. In this article, I share some benefits that may surprise you.

Reading aloud helps kid’s brains to grow. The intellectual stimulation created by listening to a story improves receptive language and builds working vocabulary. It also helps develop children’s ability to understand and express complex sentence structure. Children understand stories, which are read aloud, at much higher levels than if they read to themselves. Parents can also introduce kids to ideologies, cultures, environments and stories about people, places and things. When parents choose books to read aloud to children they can expose their kids to a wide variety of important life lessons.

Physical closeness while reading to children is another benefit. When children are little and at a pre-reading level, they enjoy cuddle time with a book. However, some of the opportunity to cuddle and obtain physical closeness is lost as kids grow older. These kids often think or feel that it’s not cool to be cuddled or hugged. All children and adults need a certain amount of hugs, or appropriate touch each day. Adults can use reading to kids as an opportunity to provide that, and to enjoy continued, acceptable, physical contact. Parents who read really cool stories to kids find that they can sit close to one another. This feels more natural and agreeable. In fact, older kids sometimes will read to younger siblings in order to meet the need for appropriate touch!

Children’s emotional development is also enhanced when parents read aloud. Studies have shown that children who are read to, and who continue to read, develop greater empathy than children who don’t have this opportunity. Stories help children and adults to identify and empathize with characters and situations. Kids may then express their thoughts and feelings to the adult reader. Open and curious conversation between parents and kids may also develop closer emotional bonds. The bonding, which occurs over shared stories, can develop deeper connections between parents and children that may last throughout their lives.

Read aloud together! My books, Twee’ and I Am Twee’, as well as other good children’s books, provide adults with infinite opportunity to talk with kids about their thoughts and feelings. This creates better understanding and deeper bonds. Our children are only with us a short time. They allow us to read to them for fewer years than that. Take the time. Read together and enjoy your children. Reading aloud to kids provides wonderful benefits that last a lifetime! 

I hope you enjoyed this article and will let me know by contacting me or share the love on FaceBook, Twitter and Pinterest. Feel free to visit my author page and buy my books at http://www.SusieCaronOnAmazon.com. Thank you.