Showing posts with label Robert Vescio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robert Vescio. Show all posts

Monday, March 13, 2023

Happy Book Birthday, A Squiggly Line by Robert Vescio!

I'm getting a little ahead of myself, since the official release day on this one is actually tomorrow. But I'm always excited about book birthdays and find that each one deserves a several-day shout-out. This cute little mouse caught my attention, and I was very curious to see what it would do with a pencil in its hands...that could lead in all sorts of directions, don't you think?



A SQUIGGLY LINE
by Robert Vescio
Illustrated by Kathy Creamer
Little Pink Dog Books
Picture Book
40 pages
ages 4 to 8





A Squiggly Line is a story about the pursuit of one’s dream, similar to the rules of taming the life we live. A funny and exciting journey into the power of positive thinking and discovering your creative abilities and self confidence. A brave little mouse begins an adventure armed with just a pencil and a blank page…he doesn’t know where he’s going or what he will encounter along the way. During the process, even though his drawing may seem squiggly and messy at first, he soon develops the confidence to overcome the stumbling blocks and surprises along the way–surprises that he never thought existed. And from that moment, his creation comes to play.
 
Told in a unique way full of play and creativity, the story will send a powerful message about the endless possibilities of having fun with one’s imagination. It will help children to explore how they can turn a simple squiggly line into a playful idea.
 
A Squiggly Line is a fun and entertaining story about how life is very much the same as a squiggly line. Our squiggly line, our life, is shaped by the directions we take in our lives and how we can develop the confidence and ingenuity to overcome the problems that try to trip us up.
  
A Squiggly Line is a story about embracing life’s journey and creating the life you want. It shares lessons for life. It offers great advice for anyone. It’s a simple message about life and what it entails to sail on a pursuit of one’s dreams.
 
This story will appeal to children graduating, celebrating a milestone or mastering the first day of school. It’s a great inspirational story to motivate children.
 
Like the brave little mouse in the story, we all have a life that yearns to be created!

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59568394-a-squiggly-line
BOOK DEPOSITORY:
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0648652815/ref=x_gr_bb_amazon
B&N:


MY TIDBITS

With an adorable mouse and a sense of creativity, these pages lead readers into the world of imagination.

Starting with a pencil and a mouse, an adventure begins. A dot leads to a line until it meets trouble and needs to take a sharp turn. With a tiny touch of tension and the agility of a fuzzy mouse, readers see how lines and curves come together to form amazing things.

These pages hold a clever path from minimal to exciting. The simple beginnings of a mouse, a pencil, and just one little point and line lead to an adventure, step by step, and that without showing what the mouse has really formed until the very end. The illustrations stick with this basic theme by providing the lines the mouse draws, the mouse, and a dog...oh, and a ball. Everything else is blank and white. 

The mouse is very well and super cutely drawn, but then, so is the dog, and that with a fun touch. Both characters easily steal the show,  and yet, the dog never moves, and the mouse only draws. It's a subtle sense of possible danger between the two, which could happen but never does, and that adds the clever touch of excitement to keep the pages turning, while the mouse adds one line and curve after the other. 

The text is short and gives just enough to add a playful touch, while pointing out how the lines change. The illustrations add the humor as the reader sees why they change. This will have listeners giggling, while still wondering what the dog will do. The last page holds a surprise and demonstrates how amazing simple lines and curves can be. It's a cute read, which will entertain and have listeners wanting to draw, too. 


And here they are...

Robert Vescio is a published children’s author. His picture books include, Finn and Puss (EK Books), Eric Finds A Way (Wombat Books) listed on the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge for 2018, Ella Saw The Tree (Big Sky Publishing), Jack and Mia (Wombat Books) listed on the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge for 2017, Barnaby and the Lost Treasure of Bunnyville (Big Sky Publishing), Marlo Can Fly (Wombat Books) listed on the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge for 2015, No Matter Who We’re With (IP Kidz). He has more picture books due to be released soon.
Many of his short stories have been published in anthologies such as Packed Lunch, Short and Twisted, Charms Vol 1, The Toy Chest and The School Magazine NSW.
He has won awards for his children’s writing including First Place in the 2012 Marshall Allan Hill Children’s Writing Competition and Highly Commended in the 2011 Marshall Allan Hill Children’s Writing Competition.
Robert is a Books In Homes Role Model and enjoys visiting schools. His aim is to enthuse and inspire children to read and write and leave them bursting with imaginative ideas.
For more information visit: Robert’s Website or Facebook page.

Kathy Creamer is a children’s illustrator and writer who has been published by Oxford University Press, Reed International, Julia Gabriel Communications, September 21, Christmas Press, Second Look and other organisations.
Kathy has also run her own successful publishing company in the UK, where she published over eighteen picture books for a range of high net-worth private clients.
Having emigrated to Australia fifteen years ago, she moved to Armidale, and with her husband Peter, has set up Little Pink Dog Books Children’s Publishing.
Please visit Kathy’s Website and her Facebook page.

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Review: The Art of Words by Robert Vescio

Today's review hits on something near and dear to the heart of Bookworm for Kids— children and words. When I first saw this one, I wasn't sure what direction it would take, but I have read several books from this publisher and know they usually have wonderful reads. This one did not disappoint.

Ready to have some fun with words?


THE ART OF WORDS
by Robert Vescio
Illustrated by Joanna Bartel
Picture Book
32 pages
ages 4 to 8



Words are everywhere! Come on this lively adventure to learn more about how they can be shortened, extended, and even switched around. Meet ugly words, colourful words, and words that just need a friend.

The Art of Words is a unique, fun and interactive story about the magic of words. Two children and their adorable dog are illustrated playfully interacting with letters and words, and discovering myriad word functions and capabilities. Typography is a major feature and each page shows words that are scaled, coloured, and positioned to enhance their meaning and reflect the interplay of their verbal and visual aspects.

At only 100 words, this ‘language through adventure’ book is intended to excite young children about language, especially the joy of words and their capabilities. Visually, it depicts an imaginative natural world with abundant greenery, stars, animals and flowers, and children engaging in sports, adventure and STEM! The illustrations aim to embrace and depict diversity in gender and race and cater to varied literacy levels. The font choices are simple and clear, to ensure beginning readers can engage confidently.

Children, parents, carers and teachers alike will delight in this quirky celebration of the joy and power of words. Readers will come to appreciate the joy of making stories from words, and will be reminded that even books that teach can be fun!


GOODREADS    /    B&N   /    BOOK DEPOSITORY    /    AMAZON



MY TIDBITS

Words are showcased in these pages with so much versatility and excitement, that it's hard not to get caught up in the fun.

First off, this one is beautifully illustrated. Each pages, while presenting a word, lets positive vibes flow as kids simply have fun presenting words. There are small details and simpler scenes as well. It's enjoyable to discover what comes next and gaze at the artwork time and again. But the main focus of this one still remains the words, and each illustration builds them in, melding them into the picture while keeping them clear for the reader to see.

This is simply a celebration of words. It hits upon all sorts of attributes words can have from length to purpose and beyond. Each time, the text is kept very concentrated and short, letting just a word (or a few) take full effect. They are whimsically used in different styles, colors and ways as they become part of the illustrations. Each one is easy for beginner readers to understand...especially when this book is used as a read aloud.

This is a lovely way to help raise enthusiasm for reading and writing, and simply using words.