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Monday, January 31, 2011

Good Night, Little Sea Otter by Janet Halfmann


I want to take this time to thank Janet for providing me a copy of this book for review and also one for giveaway.  Read to bottom of post to see how you can win an autographed copy of this book.

This is the cutest picture book.  It is bedtime for Little Sea Otter, but as you read through the book you'd think that before he finished telling all of his ocean friends good-night it would be morning time again and time to face a new day playing with all of his friends.  I don't think he misses one ocean critter when saying good night.   However, as he snuggles in his mommy's arms Little Sea Otter does finally drift off to dreamland.  I guess the rocking of the sea would put anyone to sleep that was tired enough.  It is so neat to see that Little Sea Otter is not only loved by his mom but all the friends that he must tell good night.  The Illustrations are just as cute and adorable as the book and story line.  I believe if my girls were still young enough this would be a regular favorite of theirs before they drifted off to sleep.  I think I still have Good Night, Moon implanted in my brain I read it so much to my youngest.  Good Night, Little Sea Otter is just as cute as he names all of his sea friends, however, it is not written is rhyming meter.   

Check out more information on Good Night, Little Sea Otter here.
You may visit the author's site here.
Visit Star Bright Books here


What is the theme or message in your featured book (Good Night, Little Sea Otter)?

Good Night, Little Sea Otter is primarily a soothing book about getting ready to sleep. It is also the story of a loving relationship between a mother and her youngster. The story also contains lots of science about the behavior of sea otters and other ocean life, especially in the kelp forest.

Where do you come up with your book ideas?

My book ideas come from all kinds of places: from my children’s and my childhoods, from observing my grandkids and other children, from places I visit, from things I read . . . the list goes on and on. I got the inspiration for Good Night, Little Sea Otter while writing a magazine article about two young scuba divers set in a kelp forest off California’s coast. In writing the magazine story, I had to do lots of research about the animals that live in the kelp forest. I was fascinated by how the mother sea otter wraps herself and her baby in a cradle of kelp each night. I thought Little Sea Otter would make a perfect character for a bedtime story.

Who or what has most influenced you in your writing journey?

I would say nature has influenced me most in my writing journey. The lives and behavior of animals and plants never cease to amaze me. I think my love of nature comes from growing up on a farm. Today I am an avid gardener and love taking walks and observing nature.

Do you have children? Do you model your children, or children you know into the characters you create in your stories?

I have four children and four grandchildren. Sometimes I model my characters somewhat after a specific child. For example, when I wrote Little Skink’s Tail, I pictured my granddaughter dancing around and showing off each new tail. Little Sea Otter is a composite of all four of our children, all great bedtime stallers. I think Sophia, the main character in my other recent book, Fur and Feathers, is modeled a lot after me. As a child, I spent many hours sitting on our big farm porch with my mother, first doing play sewing and later helping her with the patching of jeans and socks and you-name-it. Later, as a mother, there was always some project that required getting out the big sewing box.

What do you love about writing?

I love playing with words and making a story come to life.

Do you have any favorite place you like to write from?

I usually write in my home office. It is a space that belongs only to me. My office window looks out on a huge, old maple tree and our garden. I can see the squirrels chasing one another along the tree branches and butterflies flitting above the zinnias. It is a cluttered, but perfect place.

If money wasn’t a problem, where in the world would you love to visit? Why?

I would like to visit all of the places I’ve written about in my books. Every time I write about a place, I completely fall in love with it. I also would like to visit Africa and learn about the cultures and traditions of some of the many countries. I also would like to visit the places in Germany where my ancestors lived before they came to America.

Tell us 5 things we may not know about you.

My favorite smell is laundry fresh off the line.
My favorite sound is the cardinal’s whistle.
I love the sound and feel of a cool breeze.
I fell all the way down the marble steps of the Sorbonne in Paris.
When I was in first grade, I was chosen to read a story to my now husband’s eighth-grade class (of course, we didn’t know each other back then).

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Now, for the giveaway.  Janet has offered one of my readers a chance to win an autographed copy of Good Night, Little Sea Otter.  In order to enter you must check out Janet's site and tell me another book she has written that catches your interest. Visit Janet's site here.

Want a bonus?  Visit Star Bright Books here and tell me another book that they have that catches your interest. 

Please be sure to leave a way for me to contact you.  I'll draw a winner for this book on Feb. 14th.  Please US only shipping address. 


To winner





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A copy of Good Night, Little Sea Otter was provided by the author for this review.


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21 comments:

Unknown said...

I love this review! What a terrific chance to get to know you better, Janet. Congratulations to reviewer and reviewee. The topic of your book is marvelous, and the illustrations are, too. Thanks for sharing it!

Bluerose said...

I would love to be entered. I've been seeing this book around and it looks precious!
I went to Janet's site and while Fur and Feathers looks adorable and at first thought was the most interesting, I then saw the Bugbooks series. As a momma who hopes to homeschool in a few years, that's definitely a cool series! :)

bluerosesheart at yahoo dot com

Bluerose said...

I went to Star Bright Books, and there's so many cute books!! I think I liked Bah!Humbug? the best. I'm wanting to add more holiday books to our shelves.

bluerosesheart at yahoo dot com

Janet Halfmann: http://www.janethalfmannauthor.com said...

Thanks so much for the great review of my book, plus the interview and giveaway. And thanks to those who stopped by for your nice comments. Happy Reading and Happy Dreams to All!

Anonymous said...

Hi Janet,
Great review. I'm purposefully not mentioning one of your other wonderful books. I wanted to keep myself out of the running & hope a new or old fan will benefit. Good luck with your tour!

Blessings,
J. Aday Kennedy
The Differently-Abled Writer & Speaker
Children's Author of Klutzy Kantor & Marta's Gargantuan Wings
www.jadaykennedy.com

MaureenT said...

I agree Janet with laundry off the line! I love hearing the birds call...I love the cardinal and my favorite chickadee [in the spring it sounds like the Phoebe].
I like the looks of your Little Skink's Tail book..soooo cute!

alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

MaureenT said...

I went to Start Bright Books and I think DISABLED FABLES looks adorable.


alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

Connie Arnold said...

What a delightful book! I enjoyed the review and interview and appreciate being entered to the drawing. I'm sure my little grandsons would enjoy Good Night, Little Sea Otter.

Janet Halfmann: http://www.janethalfmannauthor.com said...

Wow! Lots more visitors. Thanks to everyone for stopping by and for you wonderful comments.

jdjmcc said...

My boys would love Janet's Fur and Feathers book. Sounds great!
jdjmcc@aol.com

jdjmcc said...

Zoo Animals looks very good (on the Star Bright Book website). There are so many to pick from!
jdjmcc@aol.com

Kristie said...

Little Skink's Tail looks like a good book! :-)

khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com

Kristie said...

ALICIA’S HAPPY DAY looks like a book my daughter would really enjoy! :-)

khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com

mrsshukra said...

I also like Janet's Plant Tricksters!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

mrsshukra said...

I also like A Donkey Reads by Muriel Mandell!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

rubynreba said...

This books looks so cute! Would love to read it to my little grandchildren. I think The Cats of Mrs. Calamari looks like a fun book.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

ossmcalc said...

Fur and Feathers has definitely caught my interest. I would very much love to have Good Night, Little Sea Otter. It sounds like the close relationship that my daughter and grandson have.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

From Star Bright Books, I am interested in Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire. It reminds me of that same phrase that we used to say to each other when I was a child.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

Linda Kish said...

BARNABY BENNETT by Hannah Rainforth
sounds cute.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Ann Summerville said...

What a lovely review. I've just started collecting books for my granddaughter (she's due to be born any day now.)
Fur and Feathers looks like another fun book and I couldn't see the name of the book on the other site but the picture of the two children with the snowman attracted me.
Ann
cozyintexas@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

7 miles to freedom but they all look lovely

Thank you for the giveaway!
Amy at valuedcustomer(at)live(dot)com