Doctor Mom Blog Hop + Picture Book Release

Thank you to everyone participating in the blog hop! 

Prompt: Share a favorite memory you have of your mom. 

Or just share a picture of your mom that you cherish. 

Or you can do both!

The only picture I have of my mom and me.

Growing up in a northern state everyone had to deal with long winters, but Mom also had to deal with us three kids home for days because of a blizzard. Things got boring fast if the snow was too deep or if it was too cold to slide down the snow banks. Of course, there was coloring, puzzles, or games, and we even put on plays for our parents. I remember one play we did called Stone Soup.

Then Mom had the best idea. She invented “Family Night,” which was held every Friday evening when the dishes were done and the newspaper was read. One of the five in our family hosted the event, picking out a board or card game to play and serving a dessert or snack. When it was my turn, I thought about it all week. Sometimes Mom helped me plan a fabulous snack. Naturally, everyone was glad when it was Mom’s Friday. She came up with the best dessert. Dad’s favorite was root beer floats, but Mom topped that with individual banana splits served in clear, crystal “banana split” dishes filled with a fat banana, three scoops of ice cream, whipped cream or chocolate syrup, and a cherry on top. The works!

When my kids were little, I took my mom’s idea and created “party,” a nightly event for my kids to enjoy snacks and soda while watching TV before bed. And my kids, all grown now, still talk about their memories of having their “party” before bedtime.

I still have one of those crystal dishes from the Family Nights from my childhood. Now, I usually fill it with pickles, radishes, or cherry tomatoes for dinner. I guess I should make myself a banana split it in honor of Mom. 😊

Title: Doctor Mom

Author: Elaine Kaye

Genre: Picture Story Book

Ages: 5-8 years

BLURB: It’s Saturday, and Gregory Green can’t wait to have fun with his dad on the riding lawnmower, but something is wrong. Sammy, his teddy bear and best friend, won’t get out of bed. Gregory is worried when he sees Sammy’s left leg is torn. This is a case for Doctor Mom! Can they fix Sammy? And just how did Sammy get hurt in the first place?

PRAISE FOR DOCTOR MOM:

"Doctor Mom is an adorable story that shows how Moms can fix anything—even a torn limb on a beloved teddy bear! Children will enjoy the lovable little bear who needs a stitch or two and his boy who plays dress-up as a doctor." – Wanda Luthman, award-winning author of Little Birdie Grows Up

“A sweet and heartfelt tale kids can easily identify with, and all of that with a wonderful touch of magic.” – Tonja Drecker, reviewer at Bookworm for Kids

BUY LINK:

AMAZON

Franky the Finicky Flamingo by Wanda Luthman

Franky the Finicky Flamingo

Written by: Wanda Luthman

Illustrations by: Mara Reitsma

Amazon

Overview: A cute rhyming story about a hungry flamingo who learns what other birds eat only to find out he has his own special food, one that helps him "stay in the pink."

Review: Franky is a pink flamingo who wears a black bowtie. You gotta love a flamingo in a bowtie! Franky is a finicky eater. He doesn't like his food and is called "a finicky dude." He doesn't think his own food is special, so he tries what other birds eat (worms, nuts, etc). What I really enjoyed, and I believe children who love animals (especially birds) will enjoy, are the details about what different species of birds eat.

But something horrible happens during Franky's taste-testing...his pink feathers begin to fade! Soon, he finds out the secret to his bright color is food meant for flamingos.

We're not told what type of food Franky eats at the beginning of the story, but I assume it was what flamingos usually eat. In the beginning, he doesn't like this food, but by the end, he finds it yummy and great because it's pink. I couldn't help but think that if you don't like a certain type of food, you're unlikely to start liking it after finding out about its health benefits. But I think the point is that Franky needed to try other birds' "cuisines" to develop an appreciation for the food he's supposed to eat.

This is a cute story that teaches about birds' diets and shows kids the importance of a proper diet. If you have a finicky eater, introduce him or her to Franky!

RECOMMENDED for bird-loving children and finicky eaters.

SAMMY APPROVED!

About the Author: 

Award-winning children's author, Wanda Luthman, utilizes her expertise in both mental health and guidance counseling to infuse each of her stories with social/emotional messages such as forgiveness, perseverance, self-acceptance, and love conquering evil while still entertaining children with magical adventure stories. She belongs to the National Pen Women Organization in Cape Canaveral, the Florida Writers Association, Space Coast Authors, and Brevard Authors Forum. She lives in sunny Florida with her incredibly understanding and supportive husband of 23 years, their two adorable yorkies, and 15 rescue feral cats (all fixed responsibly and still residing outside and on her porch in their colony)! She loves the outdoors and finds it a great source of inspiration whether she is riding her bike, swimming, or walking.

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