If You Take a Children's Author to a Bookstore

If you take a children's author to a bookstore, what will she do?

• She will carefully examine the new releases specially displayed for young readers to see.
• She will make check out the end cap displays of the titles that have gained a high level of popularity.
• She will stop to look at the seasonal books, with an eye for her own proposal ideas... and
  consider purchasing a few (or more) for the young readers in her family. 
• She will explore the creative, reading areas that call to young readers and their families and
  
  consider making such a magical place, again, for her own young reader family members.
• She will stop to chat with the manager about what is popular with kids and what the manager wishes would be published.
• She will search for books in all the genres she writes - devotionals, nonfiction, chapter books, and middle grade fiction.
• She will sit for a bit and make notes, all the while listening to the excited requests from young readers for this title or that one.
• She will check the shelves for her own titles and be thankful for the opportunity to be there.

What do you like to do when you visit a bookstore? 

Establishing Devotional Routines with Kids

Are you looking for some new routines to study God's Word in the new year? Maybe you are hoping to establish the same routines for your children and preteens.

A new year is a great time to start a new devotion book.

Here is a portion of my post on the Christian Children's Authors blog from last January on that very topic.

Kids of this age might not say that they thrive on routine, but they do. And tweens who have a routine devotional time are much more likely to chillax as they learn the promises of the Bible.

For example, the child who understands that there is a set time to complete school work, expects it to be so. He or she might not verbally welcome doing school work, but knowing that there is a designated time to get it done is calming in a way.

What about learning God's Word? Again, if there is a routine, the tween will automatically expect it. Having a ready mind set goes a long way on the path to achievement.

Here are four considerations that parents can use to create and maintain a devotional routine to help tweens  chillax in God's Word.

• Time - Let's face it. We are all creatures of habit. If an activity has a regular time in our lives, it is likely to get done. Otherwise, well meant intentions can go by the wayside. Help tweens establish a regular time for their devotions.
• Place - When a devotional time happens in a regular place, there can be fewer distractions. For example, perhaps the tween devotion takes place every evening in a quiet place in his room (perhaps with an adult). It is much more likely to be productive than if it is in the family room in the midst of video games and conversation.
• Material - It is important to have a devotion book to use with the tween's Bible. Choose a Bible translation that fits the tween's reading ability and a devotional book that engages him. There are devotions of many different formats available.
• Participants - A time of devotions can be alone or with a family member. With a child who is old enough to read independently, it is a great idea to incorporate some individual time and an additional time of reading, discussion, and praying with an adult family member.

I hope you will join us on the Christian Children's Authors blog for more posts about all things reading with Christian kids.

How to Pick Books for Young Children

Books are popular gifts to children.
Maybe your family follows the practice of Four Simple Gifts:

1. Something They Want
2. Something They Need
3. Something to Wear
4. Something to Read

Maybe your family is enjoying the 25 Books for Christmas tradition.
Perhaps your family just values the practice of reading to young children.
No matter the reason for your book gift-giving, it can be tricky to choose just the right book for a child.

Here are some things to consider when choosing a book for a young child.

• Are the words at the child's level?
• Are the illustrations fun and colorful?
• Do the words and the pictures go together?
• Is it a topic of interest to the child?
• Is the book playful and engaging?

Several months ago, I also posted a series about Great Book for Christian Kids. It has some guidelines for picking books for preteens and teens as well.

I pray that your family will have some quiet time this Christmas season. I pray that you will take time to sit together and enjoy the greatest story of all, the story of the birth of our Savior.

Carol

The Devotion Book Table

I met her at a book industry event. She was a children's ministry director for her church. I must admit she had a new-to-me idea that I truly loved.

Each year as we approach Christmas, she sets up a devotion book table for parents and kids.

Her goal is to get as many devotions for children and tweens in one spot for families to compare. Her hope is to get a good devotional fit into each child's hands as the New Year arrives. When families can preview and compare a wide variety of books, they are more likely to find one that their son or daughter will connect with and stick with for Bible study.

How can children's ministry leaders get sample copies of new, popular tween devotions? Many authors offer giveaways through sites such as Goodreads. Sometimes publishers have review copies available for the asking (if the reader is willing to post a review). 

For today only, I am offering a review copy of each tween devotional below to the first 25 children's ministry leaders who respond.

What: 

A review copy of Just Sayin' and Dare U 2 Open This Book

Who: 
Children's ministry leaders

How: 
Send the following to me at carolmcadamsmoore@gmail.com

• Your name
• Church name
• Church email address (for my monthly newsletter)
• Church snail mail address

What devotional is on your child's reading list for 2016?

Christmas Traditions and Children's Books

Have we connected on the Christian Children's Authors site? I'm sharing my post from yesterday...

Tomorrow will be November 1st. I LOVE November. It is a time of remembering the blessing of family and friends. It is a time of gathering together and looking forward to celebrating Jesus' birth at Christmas.

So why am I writing about Christmas reading when tomorrow will only be November 1st?

Read the post on Christian Children's Authors.

Costumes, Pretend, and Jesus

I was talking past a display of costumes when a little girl grabbed a hat with a long braid attached to the back. She pulled it on her head.

"Daddy, who do I look like?" she asked.

"You look just the same," he replied and chuckled.

I partially understood his response. She, in fact, had two long braids of her own. It was a moment of pretend, though. It was a moment to be someone new, someone she perhaps admired and aspired to be (in this case, someone famous, although troubled).

When children pretend, they get to try on a new personality and a new reputation.

THAT is what I love about this time of year. It reminds me of how we all have the opportunity to be a new person with a new reputation in Jesus. It is not just dress up and pretend.

He offers us the real thing, the genuine opportunity to be born again.

And when we say, "Daddy, who do I look like?"...  the marvelous thing is that all He sees is the new person we have become.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!  2 Corinthians 5:17  NLT

Book Fun with Kids

Let's Hear It for Book Fairs

As you might imagine, I love books. I am drawn to places that have lots of books -- like libraries, bookstores, book sales, and book fairs.

Last week, I saw this.

Yay! Let's hear it for school book fairs! Book fairs have a special place in my heart. A school book fair is where I first got the idea for my tween devos from Zonderkidz. What better place is there to see what intrigues young readers?

This week marks the first birthday of Dare U 2 Open This Book and Just Sayin'.

   

Yes! We are planning a party, and you are invited. Keep an eye on my blog and on other social media for all the details. We are friends -- right? If not, let's connect. I don't want you to be left out of the festivities. It's not often we get to celebrate the birthday of twins.

Labor Day - A Day of Play

Adults celebrate Labor Day as a day of rest from our hard work, and a day to be thankful for the opportunity to work. While adults may be taking it easy today, I do hope that children are hard at work.

When I ask children what they will do, given a day off, I often get a similar answer. Almost without variance, the day will revolve around video games. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against video games per se, but I grew up in THAT neighborhood.

In THAT neighborhood, the children were all hard at work.

"Play is the work of the child..."

                  Maria Montessori

In THAT neighborhood, little girls were rocking their baby dolls and practicing being mommies. Little boys were digging with trucks in the dirt... and dreaming of building big buildings. Kids were swinging on tire swings and dreaming of the future... and every week the bookmobile stopped by with books that helped the kids learn about the world and the many possibilities for their futures.

I recently watched a video by a panel of Australian children's authors and illustrators. It was a wonderful tribute to how their faith is the force behind their writing, whether overtly in the words on the page or through a child's eyes of a Christian worldview.

I made me think of the power of preschool play -- or pretending -- and the role that children's books make on building Christian character.

Preschoolers love to pretend.

Pretending can be wonderful practice for the way that God wants them to live, as young children and later as teens and adults. It can instill a confidence to follow the plan that God has for their lives.

Christian children's books help them pretend, or practice, how to live God's plan for their lives.

I wish you and your family a wonderful day together of work - and of play.

Carol

It's Gonna Be a Great Summer

You have encouraged me throughout my journey to publication. I continue to stand in awe of our great God who would allow me to have such an opportunity for service and outreach.

He has given me yet another opportunity, and I need your help.

Today I am posting about a children's literacy-mission event at the Orlando Children's Church in a few weeks that is very dear to my heart, an outreach to 550 children from at-risk backgrounds in the inner city of Christian Authors Network and the CBA. I am extremely privileged to be the co-chair for the children's activities that will span two days.
Orlando, Florida. It is co-sponsored by the Christian Booksellers Association and the Christian Authors Network.

It is our prayer and our goal to give each child a bag with one or more Christian books.

Will you help me?

Reading, Drawing, and Summer Reading Programs

Happy Saturday! On Saturdays, I post on the Christian Children's Authors blog. Here is a bit of today's post.

As I write this, I have the windows open in my office. It isn’t summer yet, but summer is surely just around
the corner. If you are a parent, a grandparent, or the caregiver of a child, I am sure that you have been busy planning for summer activities.





Summer Reading Clubs were a huge part of my summer activities as a child. I remember getting a little booklet at the library. The purpose of the booklet was to have a place to record a few things about each
book I read: title, author, summary, and what I liked about the book. I also got a construction paper shape that would move one more space around the room with each book I read.

Read the whole post 


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Notes from Carol

I am blessed to have two new releases. They are tween devos from Zonderkidz. What people are saying about the devotionals --

• The super fun feature about this devotional is it is interactive. Each devotional encourages drawing or something else artistic right in the book.  Amazon Customer
• Got two grandsons who are creative and zany. Carol McAdams Moore has given me a tool to give to these young men that will incorporate their love of the wacky to the Creator of their minds.  Cleo Lampos

For boys -                                          For girls -

                          


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copyright (c) 2015 Carol McAdams Moore

Engaging Kids in the Easter Message

Tomorrow is Easter! It is the day that we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, a day of joyous celebration.
How can we help children remember the important message of Easter? Elementary age kids often remember from doing something. Here are two ideas for engaging children in the concept of Resurrection Day.

Read more

Three Reasons to Give Children Books for Valentine's Day

Today I am posting on the Christian Children's Authors blog.
 
Happy Valentine's Day! Today, many children will be showered with cards and candy. Both are sweet expressions of love, but books also offer a great Valentine's Day gift option. Here are three reasons to consider books for a child or tween's Valentine's Day treat.

Read the complete article



*******

Notes from Carol

I am blessed to have two new releases. They are tween devos from Zonderkidz. What people are saying about the devotionals --

• The super fun feature about this devotional is it is interactive. Each devotional encourages drawing or something else artistic right in the book.  Amazon Customer
• Got two grandsons who are creative and zany. Carol McAdams Moore has given me a tool to give to these young men that will incorporate their love of the wacky to the Creator of their minds.  Cleo Lampos

For boys -                                          For girls -

                          


*******

copyright (c) 2015 Carol McAdams Moore

Intentional Marketing with Bookmarks

Last month, I posted about Seven Benefits of Bookmarks. Today I want to share some additional ideas for using bookmarks. These ideas are particularly geared to retailers, but some could be used by authors as well.





To many of us, bookstores are like candy shops. There are so many wonderful choices, and it is difficult to see them all. How can a simple bookmark guide a book lover to that perfect book on the shelf? Here are seven ways that might be accomplished. Read more

Marketing: Seven Benefits of Bookmarks

Today, I am blogging on the Christian Authors Network Blog about the benefits to authors and retailers of using bookmarks.

A bookmark is an effective marketing tool that can be used by authors and retailers alike. When my tween devos came out, the creative people at Zondervan put together some amazing bookmarks. With each of my marketing efforts, I am increasingly more thankful for those bookmarks. Here is a list of seven benefits of bookmarks.
Read the full post



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Notes from Carol

I am blessed to have two new releases. They are tween devos from Zonderkidz. What people are saying about the devotionals --

• The super fun feature about this devotional is it is interactive. Each devotional encourages drawing or something else artistic right in the book.  Amazon Customer
• Got two grandsons who are creative and zany. Carol McAdams Moore has given me a tool to give to these young men that will incorporate their love of the wacky to the Creator of their minds.  Cleo Lampos

For boys -                                          For girls -

                          


*******

copyright (c) 2015 Carol McAdams Moore

Establishing Devotional Routines with Kids

Chillax - That is something I want to do this year. I want to chillax in God's Word! What about you? Here are four ideas for helping you child or tween do that as well.

Read my post on the Christian Children's Authors blog.

After Christmas DIY Tag Craft

Are you looking for something to do with this year's Christmas cards? Making gift tags for next year is a fun way to engage kids on an afternoon off school. Here is my post on the Christian Children's Authors blog.

Read the post