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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

God is with Me through the Day and through the Night by Julie Cantrell



My review:
Any animal loving kid is going to love these books. The theme cord is the same that runs through them. Letting your child know no matter where he/she goes or what they are doing God is with them. When the day is done and the Night is ended God will still be there to help them face what comes next. The pictures are of all sorts of animals; some are funny, come are cute and sweet. The important message though is that God is there no matter what.


AUTHOR BIO

Julie Cantrell is a certified speech-language pathologist with years of experience helping children develop communication skills. As a freelance writer, she has written countless articles on the topics of parenting, family, faith, child development, education, and health. She also wrote for MOPS, Intl. (Mothers of Preschoolers) for nearly a decade, where she served as contributing editor for MOMSense magazine. She currently writes for Princeton HealthCare System and FNC, Inc.

Julie's first picture books, God is with Me through the Day and God is with Me through the Night were published this year by Zondervan to help young children overcome fears while building their faith in God.

Learn more about how to help your children overcome fears by visiting Julie's blog. There, you'll also find themed activities for parents and teachers of young children--plus lots of fun ideas for families!

Q&A with Julie Cantrell on God is with Me through the Night and God is with Me through the Day:

Why did you write these picture books?

When my daughter was young, she had a hard time sleeping in her own bed. She was afraid of the dark, and she suffered from terrible nightmares. She loved to read, and she loved animals – so when she was five years old, the two of us worked together to create a bedtime story just for her.

We found stock photos of animals, and we wrote simple text to reassure her that even when I tucked her into her bed at night, she was not alone. I wanted her to feel secure that I would never leave her in a place that wasn’t safe, and that God was always with her—even in the dark.

How did the books become published?

I never intended to publish the book. I wrote it to help my own daughter overcome her fears while building her faith in God. When her friends would sleep over, they all enjoyed the book and wanted me to print copies for them. Then the neighborhood kids asked for copies. I was working in a preschool as a speech-language pathologist at the time, so I read the story to my students. They all reacted positively to the story, so some of the other teachers and parents asked for copies. Their reactions made me think seriously about sharing the story to children on a bigger scale.

I had been working as a freelance writer for many years, so I decided to look for an agent. Several publishers expressed serious interest in the books, and we ended up signing a contract with Zonderkidz (the children’s division of Zondervan).

I was thrilled when they asked for a partner book to help children cope with fears such as separation anxiety and shyness through the day. God is with Me through the Day and God is with Me through the Night were released simultaneously on March 1, 2009.


How did your professional background help you write these books?

Aside from writing articles on the topics of faith, family, and child development for nearly a decade, I am also a certified speech-language pathologist. I’ve spent years helping children of all abilities/disabilities develop their communication skills. This includes not only their speech, but their reading and language skills as well. I was certain that young children preferred books with big pictures, simple text, and repetitive prose. Plus, I knew that most kids love animals.

Still, I conducted extensive research on children’s picture books. I was surprised to read studies that indicated children prefer color photos to illustrations. With real-world reactions from children, data to support the design of the books, and a gut instinct that families would enjoy reading these aloud time and time again, I decided to move forward with publishing. I am excited to share this universal message with children around the world.

How have children reacted to the books?

It’s been amazing to see children’s reactions as I read to school groups and story time groups. They laugh at the funny photos. They say “awww” when there’s a sweet photo. And they show sad expressions when the animals express fear or loneliness. I encourage them to talk to the animals on the pages. “Tell the goat, ‘Don’t be scared. Go play with your friends.’” Or “Silly kitty. That’s just a shadow!” They really interact with the book and always ask me to read it again.

Through the use of realistic, natural photos, the children can understand that all of God’s creatures feel afraid at times. It helps them cope with their emotions so they feel confident to explore their world or sleep through the night.

How have parents reacted to the books?

It’s been wonderful to hear feedback from parents after they’ve bought the books, especially to hear that this is sometimes the first book their child could read independently. As a mother, author, and speech-language pathologist, that’s an amazing compliment.

One of my favorite stories was from the parents of a three-year-old daughter. They emailed me to say they ran to her bedroom door because they had heard her screaming. When they got there, they realized she was yelling, “I am safe! I am loved!” which are phrases used repetitively in both books. Another huge compliment has been to hear that children carry these books around with them in the car or that parents have had to tape the pages back together because the books have been so “loved.”

I am thrilled, honored, and grateful that these stories are reaching so many families. If there’s one thing I want everyone to know, it’s that they’re loved and that they’re never alone. If I can share that message with even one child a day, then I am very blessed.


Visit Julie’s blogsite: http://juliecantrell.wordpress.com, where parents and teachers can find fun and developmentally appropriate activities to go along with the books.
Join the Julie's facebook group, God is with Me through the Day and Night.



I have a copy of God is with me through the Day and God is with me through the Night for giveaway. Leave a comment telling me which one you'd like to win. Be sure to leave an e-mail address for contact if you are the winner. I will draw a winner from those that leave a comment. Drawing will be Dec. 1st. US residents only please.


The first rule must be followed before you can get extra entries below.

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES: see the following and be sure to leave a separate comment for each (These can only be done if you've done initial entry above):

1. Become a Follower of my Blog - left sidebar (let me know if you already do) ~ 1 entry


2. Subscribe to my Blog - left sidebar (let me know if you already do) ~1 entry


3. Blog about this giveaway, with a link to my blog and come back and leave the link to your blog post. (Post 3 separate comments) ~ 3 entries


4. No Blog - No Worries - email 4 friends CC me (ABreading4fun[at]gmail[dot]com).
(please post separate comments for each entry) ~ 4 entries

5. Add 4 the LOVE of BOOKS to your blogroll or favorite sites to visit, using my URL which links back to me! ~ 3 entries (be sure to post 3 separate comments)


Please US residents only. Be sure to leave a way for contact if you are the winner. Drawing will be held on Dec. 1st.


To winner of
God is With me Through the Day ~
Shawntele
&

winner of
God is With me Through the Night ~
tmc480








These books were provided for review and giveaway by





books

28 comments:

Shawntele said...

I think my youngest would enjoy these books, she is such an animal lover. She is only nine but has already decided that she wants to work with animals when she grows up. God is With Me Through the Day would be my choice, I think the puppy is cute!
My email is savedbygrace7215(at)yahoo(dot)com

Shawntele said...

I am a follower, thanks for another entry!

Edna said...

I would like to win the book "God is with me through the night" for my little granddaughter.

Edna said...

I am a follower of your blog


mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

Edna said...

I forgot to put my email on the first comment where I said that I would love to win the book, "God help me through the night" for my little granddaughter.


mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

Giveaway Lady said...

I would like to win the God Is With Me Through The Day for my younger sister. Please enter me in your giveaway. Thanks!
esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

Giveaway Lady said...

And I am a subscriber too.

Anonymous said...

I would like the Through the Night. Please enter me.
littleladyintraining(at)yahoo(dot)com

Martha Eskuchen said...

These are lovely books - would be great for my grandson! mesreadsATgmailDOTcom

Martha Eskuchen said...

I am a follower.

Martha Eskuchen said...

I posted a link for the contest at my blog here:
http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/11/more-giveaways-this-weekend-around-book.html

Martha Eskuchen said...

I posted on the Giveaway #3
http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/11/more-giveaways-this-weekend-around-book.html

Martha Eskuchen said...

I posted on the giveaway #2
http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/11/more-giveaways-this-weekend-around-book.html

Martha Eskuchen said...

You are on my blog roll at
http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/

Martha Eskuchen said...

Your site is on my blogroll #3
http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/

Martha Eskuchen said...

Your site is in my blogroll at:
http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/

Winning Readings said...

Through the Night...

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Winning Readings said...

We posted about this giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/11/god-is-with-me-books_28.html

janemaritz at yahoo dot com
#3

Winning Readings said...

We posted about this giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/11/god-is-with-me-books_28.html

janemaritz at yahoo dot com
#2

Winning Readings said...

We posted about this giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/11/god-is-with-me-books_28.html

janemaritz at yahoo dot com
#1

wmmahaney said...

I have a little boy who would love God is With Me Through the NIght.
wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

plb8156 said...

I think they both look great but if I had to pick one I would say through the night as my kids are more afraid at night :)
plb8156@aol.com

zachsgran said...

I'd like the night book
zachsgran1 at yahoo dot com

zachsgran said...

email subscriber
zachsgran1 at yahoo dot com

zachsgran said...

follower
zachsgran1 at yahoo dot com

tmc480 said...

I would like the God is with me through the night book
tmc480 at yahoo dot com

Deb K said...

God is with Me through the Night would be my pick for my little granddaughter.

deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com

Deb K said...

I am a new email subscriber

deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com