Buckaroo Buckeye:
A Little Nut with Big Dreams
by Kristin Anderson Cetone
Illustrated by Nadia Komorova
KLAC Enterprises, LLC
Children's Fiction / Friendship, Social Skills & School Life, Bullies, Growing Up & Facts of Life
36 pages
Ages 3-7
Tour dates: May 21 to June 15, 2018
Content Rating: G
Winner of the Mom's Choice Silver and OneBookAZ Awards!
There's a new cowboy in town! Hit the trail with Buckaroo Buckeye, a lovable little nut who falls from his tree in Ohio, as he dodges the bumps and bullies along the way in a magical journey to find his true place in the world.
Created by Reading Specialist Kristin Cetone, Buckaroo Buckeye teaches children 4-8 to: • Learn to ignore bullies
• Improve their self-esteem
• Connect with reading
• "Dream, Believe and Achieve" no matter their size!
Your child will be inspired by Buckaroo's determination in this touching story with unforgettable characters illustrated by Nadia Komorova. Get yours today!
INTERVIEW
Thank you Kristin for stopping by today! Let's just dig right in with the questions. . .
Buckaroo Buckeye is so cute! Where did you find the inspiration for this amazing little guy?
Buckaroo Buckeye is about my own life growing up in Ohio and the strong guidance and influence of my ‘family tree.’ The whole premise for Buckaroo Buckeye came from my father. In his elder years he would often ask, “Do you know what a buckeye nut is?” To humor him, we would always say, “No, Dad, what is a buckeye nut?” His response was ALWAYS, “It’s a worthless nut!” This became the trigger for Buckaroo’s journey of self-discovery.
That is a fun inspiration. But how about the writing process? Did you have any special tricks or notice certain things which helped you bring Buckaroo Buckeye to the page?
Doing the research before I really started writing. I first had to determine if a buckeye tree could grow in Arizona. My research led me to a distant
branch of the horse chestnut family that can grow in southern Arizona and Mexico. However,
knowing how astute children are today, I worried there would be just one child out there
who would challenge the ending to my story whereby Buckaroo takes root and grows
mighty in the southwestern desert, so I changed the ending to where Buckaroo is
transported back to the Midwest where buckeye trees grow in abundance. I also wanted to
give insight into the buckeye such as how it got its name, connection to Ohio, the purpose
and worth of a buckeye tree. It was important for me to make my story a learning
opportunity for the reader since most people west of the Mississippi River don’t know
what a buckeye nut is!
branch of the horse chestnut family that can grow in southern Arizona and Mexico. However,
knowing how astute children are today, I worried there would be just one child out there
who would challenge the ending to my story whereby Buckaroo takes root and grows
mighty in the southwestern desert, so I changed the ending to where Buckaroo is
transported back to the Midwest where buckeye trees grow in abundance. I also wanted to
give insight into the buckeye such as how it got its name, connection to Ohio, the purpose
and worth of a buckeye tree. It was important for me to make my story a learning
opportunity for the reader since most people west of the Mississippi River don’t know
what a buckeye nut is!
I'll admit, I'd never heard of a buckeye nut either.
Now, for something more fun, what is the funniest, scariest or strangest thing that ever happened to you?
The funniest, scariest and strangest thing that ever happened to me just so happened to take
place invent. Many years ago, while living in Tucson, Arizona, we had a neighbor who
worked for the U.S. Geological Survey. He and his family were the true outdoors people.
Hiking, camping, fishing… One evening he came over to talk while we were out in our driveway
and invited us to come to his house, with a twinkle in his eye. Of course, we would love to!
As we approached his carport, he pointed to a hairy, eight-legged creature walking ahead of
us toward his carport. He jumped in front of it to stop its trek. Oh, my gosh! It was a tarantula
with babies alongside! Did I mention that I am terrified of spiders!!! Being the adventurer,
and naturalist he was, he started teasing this tarantula. When he did the tarantula suddenly
jumped high up in the air and scurried off, heading toward me!!! I had never been this close
to a tarantula since we had moved to Arizona. Well, I don’t know who ran away faster, me or
the tarantula! Boy, did he and his family get a big hoot out of watching my response.
place invent. Many years ago, while living in Tucson, Arizona, we had a neighbor who
worked for the U.S. Geological Survey. He and his family were the true outdoors people.
Hiking, camping, fishing… One evening he came over to talk while we were out in our driveway
and invited us to come to his house, with a twinkle in his eye. Of course, we would love to!
As we approached his carport, he pointed to a hairy, eight-legged creature walking ahead of
us toward his carport. He jumped in front of it to stop its trek. Oh, my gosh! It was a tarantula
with babies alongside! Did I mention that I am terrified of spiders!!! Being the adventurer,
and naturalist he was, he started teasing this tarantula. When he did the tarantula suddenly
jumped high up in the air and scurried off, heading toward me!!! I had never been this close
to a tarantula since we had moved to Arizona. Well, I don’t know who ran away faster, me or
the tarantula! Boy, did he and his family get a big hoot out of watching my response.
Wow! That was quite the experience. I hope your everyday life is quite that eventful.
I am a Reading Specialist and offer online reading assessments and reading tutoring for
grades 1 through 3. I also volunteer with a local therapeutic riding center called,
Horses Help, that provides horseback riding and hippotherapy to physically and mentally
challenged children and adults. The organization offers horse therapy for troubled youth
and wounded veterans also. I love crafts. I like to think creatively and embrace crafty
projects. With the rest of my spare time I hangout with family. I have just recently adopted
a cute little chihuahua named Songbird.
I love dogs!
grades 1 through 3. I also volunteer with a local therapeutic riding center called,
Horses Help, that provides horseback riding and hippotherapy to physically and mentally
challenged children and adults. The organization offers horse therapy for troubled youth
and wounded veterans also. I love crafts. I like to think creatively and embrace crafty
projects. With the rest of my spare time I hangout with family. I have just recently adopted
a cute little chihuahua named Songbird.
I love dogs!
“Success comes from a tiny ‘seed’ within each of us. This tiny seed contains our hopes
and dreams and passions in life. When we receive encouragement and nourishment
from family, culture, education, and life experiences, the seed will sprout and grow
mighty, and rise above the bumps
and bullies and setbacks along the way.
and dreams and passions in life. When we receive encouragement and nourishment
from family, culture, education, and life experiences, the seed will sprout and grow
mighty, and rise above the bumps
and bullies and setbacks along the way.
Discouraging words…discourage dreams,
Encouraging words…sprout dreams,
Parents plant the seeds.”
-Kristin Anderson Cetone
And here she is...
Buckaroo Buckeye grew out of author Kristin Anderson Cetone's imagination and joy of reading.
Born in Dayton, Ohio, she traveled many miles before putting down roots in the Arizona desert. Influenced by family, education, life experiences, and a desire to teach others, Mrs. Cetone discovered her purpose---just like Buckaroo Buckeye did.
Her true calling and passion is writing and helping others become successful readers. She created Buckaroo to encourage children to believe in themselves and follow their dreams while dodging the bumps and bullies along the way. Reading will help guide the way. Being a Reading Specialist, she has also created Nuts About Reading™ an informal, supplemental, online reading service. She shares her insights and suggestions to help parents strengthen their children's reading process and become successful readers.
Her joy now is to inspire and help kids to find the Buckaroo Buckeye in themselves.
Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram
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Ends June 23, 2018
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