It was exhausting when he had just learned to walk and would charge toward the swimming pool with obvious glee while Rick and I raced to keep him from leaping in. He refused swimmies or any type of floating device from the beginning. And so it was no surprise that he learned to swim at the tender age of 3.

Last August, during the Olympic games in Beijing, Truman took the most interest in the sports that involved water. And naturally, he became a fan of Michael Phelps. We cheered together has he won each of his gold metals. (Truman loves a winner.)

I just learned that Phelps has released a children’s book titled “How to Train with a T. Rex and Win 8 Gold Medals.” I am so getting this book. I sent the link to Rick because not only does Rick know Truman’s love for water and the 14-time Olympic gold medalist, Rick’s nickname for Truman has always been T. Rex.

Oh, a little bit about the book – it features illustrations of Phelps, his bulldog Herman and his coach Bob Bowman. And best of all, Amazon has it on sale for just $12.23!

Source: AP
Book Image, Amazon
Pool photo, JWJourney

Post from: Blisstree

Michael Phelps Pens Children’s Book

I’ve continued the interview here:

Mary Emma: Were your children involved in writing the book?

Carolyn: They were!  They were involved in making the illustrations come to life.  By the time I got around to writing the story, several years had passed; Katie had grown, and that created a challenge for the illustrator.  So little brother Cash posed as Katie during the photo shoot to capture the emotions Katie feels throughout the book.

Katie, on the other hand, posed for all the shots that didn’t show her full face. The artwork shown in the book – on the refrigerator, the Gallery, and on the final page – are all actual pieces by Katie that were scanned into the illustration.

Mary Emma: The illustrations are wonderful.  Tell us about the artist.

Carolyn: Deb Hoeffner created a magnificent fusion of color and breathed life into the books’s characters, making the illustration amazingly lifelike.  [Using some of the processes described above]

Deb has had a twenty-five year professional career, and her paintings and drawings are in many private collections.  She describes her unique style of “soft realism” as a layering of thought, paint, and possibilities. Deb’s studio is located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Mary Emma: Readers will find the illustrations charming and likely be enchanted by them.  You’ll find yourself looking for more of Deb Hoeffner’s work.

I consider myself primarily an author, but I’ve done some illustrating of my stories.  The more I do, the more I enjoy it and find this another way to branch out into the art world even more.

More about Carolyn McWilliams Brown.

(Amazon image)

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The Pleasure of Illustrating Books

Image details: BookExpo America served by picapp.com

It’s a 240-page children’s book titled “A Promise to Ourselves: Fatherhood, Divorce and Family Law,” is due Sept. 23 from St. Martin’s Press.

And you know what else is weird? The how-to book is about injustices done to divorced fathers. Baldwin makes no secret of his disdain for the American family law system, and that’s most likely what the book will be about. Is it supposed to help parents and children cope with divorce? What advice can Baldwin possibly give to parents or children about divorce?! Who knows… but it’s getting a lot of press and if anything else people will want to check it out. That’s the worst thing.

Post from: Blisstree

Alec Baldwin writes a children’s book on injustices to divorced dads?!

This is the first book for the mom and daughter team, but they’re not strangers of children’s literature. Both are also school teachers and have a passion for getting children to read and be literate. Jenna Bush has also written a book titled “Ana’s Story“, although this is more an inspirational story than a litrature for children.

It’s a known fact that First Lady Laura Bush loves to read to children. Recently, at the White House Easter Egg Hunt, Jenna and Laura got on stage (and into the act) of storytelling.

Image details: Annual Easter Egg Roll Held At The White House served by picapp.com

Also after the jump, watch the Jay Leno interview. Jenna also talks about her recent wedding to Henry Hager at the laid-back Texas ranch, the pre-wedding disaster, and how “Momzilla” came to the rescue.

Image details: Annual Easter Egg Roll Held At The White House served by picapp.com

Image details: Annual Easter Egg Roll Held At The White House served by picapp.com

“Read All About It” is available at Amazon for $12.23.

image: Amazon

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Jenna and Laura Bush promote children’s book on Leno

I have two books – “Lady’s Big Surprise” and the sequel “Star of Wonder” to give away to ONE (1) very happy winner! Here’s how to join –

• In the comments, share what adventure books does your child love to read now.
• Additional entry will be given to those who link this contest post on their site! You need to include your post URL.
• Eligibility – one entry per person per email daily (so you get more entries if you come back tomorrow, but I need different books each time).
• It’s open to residents of the 48 contiguous US states only. If you have a blog, do post your URL as well, as I love to visit my readers’ sites and catch a conversation.

Contest ends 12:00 midnight EST on May 23, 2008 (Friday). One winner will be randomly chosen and announced via blog and email the week after. If the winner does not reply within 3 days, he/she forfeits her winnings and an alternate winner will be chosen.

UPDATE: THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. A winner has been randomly chosen.
image: amazon

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Kids Health Notes give-away: Lucky Foot Stables series