Have you done a Summer Reading Bingo Challenge yet? Try the free reading bingo below from the Super Readers Club! For more fun, free printable activities for kids + silly comics click here!
Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Super Readers Club: Summer Reading Bingo & More!
Have you done a Summer Reading Bingo Challenge yet? Try the free reading bingo below from the Super Readers Club! For more fun, free printable activities for kids + silly comics click here!
Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Super Story Time JULY
*Always LIVE, never recorded—because 1) protecting creative copyright is important, and 2) because the old-school-Saturday-monring-cartoons-live-and-in-person-energy is totally RAD!
Super Star Interviews: Mónica Vidalón
Welcome to my monthly interview feature! I’m so excited to be interviewing all the fabulous artists, illustrators and designers I’ve meet over the years (both personally and virtually!) and sharing their artwork and experiences here on Bird Meets Worm. Look for a new interview on the first Tuesday of every month.
This month I'm pleased as punch to be catching up with the lovely author-illustrator Mónica Vidalón. Mónica's new picture book, Penelope’s Big Dream, is her debut as a children's book indie publisher and an inspiration for creators dreaming of publishing their own books, too. Born and raised in Perú, she moved to the United States at the age of 24 to continue her studies. She currently lives with her husband and three daughters in sunny Texas, where she spends her days writing and illustrating children’s books. You can follow Mónica on Instagram here.
Q: Your adorable picture book, Penelope’s Big Dream, released this past spring in both English and Spanish. Dish with us about this sweet title and what inspired you to create it!
A: Thank you! Penelope’s Big Dream is a story about a girl who dares to dream BIG, so BIG that she starts to feel embarrassed by it. Eventually she finds herself with an important decision to make.
My inspiration to write this book came from what I have felt many times, not only as a young girl but also as a grown woman, and the example I would like to set for my children. I want them to have the courage to dream big and the self-awareness and determination to pursue it. The goal for this book was to create a heartfelt story that readers (young and old) can relate to and I wanted to draw simple but expressive illustrations to help tell the story.
(Psst! You can get your own copy of Penelope's Big Dream here:)
This month I'm pleased as punch to be catching up with the lovely author-illustrator Mónica Vidalón. Mónica's new picture book, Penelope’s Big Dream, is her debut as a children's book indie publisher and an inspiration for creators dreaming of publishing their own books, too. Born and raised in Perú, she moved to the United States at the age of 24 to continue her studies. She currently lives with her husband and three daughters in sunny Texas, where she spends her days writing and illustrating children’s books. You can follow Mónica on Instagram here.
Q: Your adorable picture book, Penelope’s Big Dream, released this past spring in both English and Spanish. Dish with us about this sweet title and what inspired you to create it!
A: Thank you! Penelope’s Big Dream is a story about a girl who dares to dream BIG, so BIG that she starts to feel embarrassed by it. Eventually she finds herself with an important decision to make.
My inspiration to write this book came from what I have felt many times, not only as a young girl but also as a grown woman, and the example I would like to set for my children. I want them to have the courage to dream big and the self-awareness and determination to pursue it. The goal for this book was to create a heartfelt story that readers (young and old) can relate to and I wanted to draw simple but expressive illustrations to help tell the story.
(Psst! You can get your own copy of Penelope's Big Dream here:)
Amazon
Q: What was your most treasured picture book as a child? What is your most favorite picture book now? Why?
A: As a child, I enjoyed reading El Patito Feo (The Ugly Duckling) over and over again. I loved how at the end, he turned out to be a beautiful swan. He was all along who he was meant to be. He just needed to find his tribe.
Nowadays, there are so many great picture books that it is hard for me to choose just one. The first one that comes to mind is Mama Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosse because it touches my heart every time I read it. I think the unconditional love that a mother feels toward her child is spot on. The story is heartwarming, fun to read aloud, and has beautiful illustrations featuring the Inuit culture.
Q: What is next for you as an author-illustrator-publisher? What new books or products can fans look forward to in the future?
A: I’m excited to share that a new book is in the works. I have completed the Spanish version and I’m currently working on the English version as well as the illustrations. It is part of an overall series intended to share positive messages with young readers. Writing children’s books has been a dream of mine for a long time and it is truly amazing to be able to pursue it now.
Q: Describe your most perfect Sunday.
A: My most perfect Sunday involves waking up early and going for a short run or playing tennis. Followed by a nice brunch with the family and a visit to the bookstore. In the afternoon, we relax and read for a bit, and to finish up the day, we watch a family movie (popcorn included, of course!).
Q: Tell us a bit about your most favorite reader response that you’ve received so far!
A: Of course, I love all the children’s responses. One of my favorites is a video of a little girl reading the book and her expressions and intonation truly warmed my heart. It was so precious! But my most favorite so far, because it was so unexpected, came from a grown man who confessed he was feeling a little down and reading my book made him feel better. It reminded him of the importance of living his life to the fullest. It really made my day to hear that my book helped somebody feel better.
A: Of course, I love all the children’s responses. One of my favorites is a video of a little girl reading the book and her expressions and intonation truly warmed my heart. It was so precious! But my most favorite so far, because it was so unexpected, came from a grown man who confessed he was feeling a little down and reading my book made him feel better. It reminded him of the importance of living his life to the fullest. It really made my day to hear that my book helped somebody feel better.
 |
| Nevermind the naysayers! YOUR dream is important, valid & wonderful! |
Q: Self-publishing children’s books is becoming increasingly popular! What advice would you give fellow author-illustrators about: 1) the self-publishing process, 2) inspiring positive book reviews, and 3) marketing your book?
A: Those are great questions and hard for me to answer because I’m still in the process of learning how to navigate all of this myself.
Self-publishing can be a daunting process but if you set your mind to it you can definitely do it. In my experience, persistence, lots of research and showing up to work every day have been keys to self-published my book.
As for reviews and marketing, I’m trying to spread the word about the book through different channels, including social media, emails, mouth to mouth, my author website and getting as many people as I can to read it. In all honesty, there is a vast amount of information on how to market a book that I have yet to explore.
A: Those are great questions and hard for me to answer because I’m still in the process of learning how to navigate all of this myself.
Self-publishing can be a daunting process but if you set your mind to it you can definitely do it. In my experience, persistence, lots of research and showing up to work every day have been keys to self-published my book.
As for reviews and marketing, I’m trying to spread the word about the book through different channels, including social media, emails, mouth to mouth, my author website and getting as many people as I can to read it. In all honesty, there is a vast amount of information on how to market a book that I have yet to explore.
 |
| Oops! This fella just needs a bigger doorway/car! ;D |
Q: What was your most treasured picture book as a child? What is your most favorite picture book now? Why?
A: As a child, I enjoyed reading El Patito Feo (The Ugly Duckling) over and over again. I loved how at the end, he turned out to be a beautiful swan. He was all along who he was meant to be. He just needed to find his tribe.
Nowadays, there are so many great picture books that it is hard for me to choose just one. The first one that comes to mind is Mama Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosse because it touches my heart every time I read it. I think the unconditional love that a mother feels toward her child is spot on. The story is heartwarming, fun to read aloud, and has beautiful illustrations featuring the Inuit culture.
 |
| Hug your dream close!!! |
Q: What is next for you as an author-illustrator-publisher? What new books or products can fans look forward to in the future?
A: I’m excited to share that a new book is in the works. I have completed the Spanish version and I’m currently working on the English version as well as the illustrations. It is part of an overall series intended to share positive messages with young readers. Writing children’s books has been a dream of mine for a long time and it is truly amazing to be able to pursue it now.
Q: Describe your most perfect Sunday.
A: My most perfect Sunday involves waking up early and going for a short run or playing tennis. Followed by a nice brunch with the family and a visit to the bookstore. In the afternoon, we relax and read for a bit, and to finish up the day, we watch a family movie (popcorn included, of course!).
Thanks so much, Mónica, for chatting it up with us here at Bird Meets Worm! Congratulations on your sweet picture book!
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