Written by: George Shannon

Illustrated by: Laura Dronzek

Hardback: 32 pages

Ages: 3 to 7
Publisher: Harcourt

ISBN: 978-0-15-206073-2

Publication: November 2007

“Rabbit twitched his nose in the cold, damp air. Time to find food. More snow was coming. Coming soon.”

This delightful book tells the timeless tale of “paying it forward.” After collecting turnips for the winter, Rabbit wonders if his friend, Donkey, has enough to eat. So Rabbit pushes an extra turnip to Donkey’s house and leaves it by his door.

“When Donkey returned with a potato she’d found, she nearly stepped on the turnip by the
door. ‘Who could have left his nice surprise?’ asked Donkey. ‘My potato is plenty for me. Goat’s always hungry. I’ll take this to him.”

And so starts a gesture of kindness that spreads throughout the forest, from one animal to another, and eventually back to Rabbit himself.

Author George Shannon does an excellent job telling this folktale in a way that children will understand and appreciate. It really shows that a little generosity goes a long way. The illustrations are bright and colorful. This book is a gem. Definitely add this one to your reading library!

And right now she is even offering a special holiday discount on her intensive 8-week Working Writer’s Coaching Program. Find out more about the program and how to receive your disount HERE.

But don’t delay. This special holiday discount ends tomorrow night - December 31st - at midnight!

Children’s Writers Newsletter is published by the Writer’s Institute in West Redding, Connecticut.

Children’s Writer brings you these regular features to keep you on top of the market every month:

Marketplace—three full pages to provide even more news about what editors are looking foright now! PLUS . . . tips, updates, new faces, new specs, start-ups, shutdowns, mergers, and acquisitions.

Contest Announcements—Including Children’s Writer’s own contests with cash prizes of up to $500 for the grand-prize winner plus publication in Children’s Writer.

Commentary—Award-winning author Patricia Curtis Pfitsch delves into important and controversial developments in the children’s field in this regular feature.

Profession and Craft—Two regular columns where guest writers discuss key aspects of the business side and the writing side of being a professional writer.

Of course, as you might expect from the Institute, there’s even more:

• Book editors discuss their wants and needs;

• Interviews with authors who help shape the market;

• Profiles of magazines that are setting the pace.

Find out more about this publication and how to subscribe HERE.

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Children’s Book Insider is another publication children’s writers can’t be without!

Each issue of Children’s Book Insider includes:

NEW MARKETS. The first thing you’ll see when you pick up CBI each month is “At Presstime,” two pages of fresh and exclusive market news. This publication tells you about new imprints, changes in editorial direction, calls for submission, contests, grants and much more. CBI editors use their exclusive network of sources to provide readers with the hottest leads. And they put it all right up front, because they know your first objective as a writer is to sell. “At Presstime” is the source to find out who’s buying.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR WORK. CBI extensively covers the nuts and bolts of submitting your work, with information that will make it easy for you to take action. Their Editor Profile series brings you up close to top editors, who will tell you — in their own words — exactly what they’re looking for and how they like to be approached. Plus, CBI’s feature articles cover every aspect of the submissions process — from formatting your manuscript all the way through signing a contract.

WRITING SECRETS. Their straightforward “how-to” pieces about writing give you the do’s, don’ts and golden rules of children’s literature. From picture books through young adult novels, CBI tells the secrets that can turn rejection letters into book contracts.

ADVICE FROM TOP AUTHORS. CBI brings you the advice, encouragement and wisdom of America’s top children’s writers, through their series of exclusive interviews. Judy Blume, Jane Yolen, R.L. Stine, Gary Paulsen, Walter Dean Myers….these are just a few of the big names that have appeared in CBI. (Apply the lessons these folks have to offer and, who knows, maybe someday CBI will be interviewing you!)

Find out more about this publication and how to subscribe HERE.

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Become a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and you’ll automatically receive the SCBWI Bulletin.

This bi-monthly publication contains comprehensive and current information in the field of children’s literature. Features include the latest market reports, articles on issues in writing, illustrating, and publishing, information on contests and awards, reports of events in the field, news of SCBWI members, as well as information about ongoing SCBWI activities throughout the country. The Bulletin is an invaluable source of information and inspiration to writers and illustrators of children’s literature.

If so, then here’s a great little book that can help!

It’s called Writer’s First Aid: Getting Organized, Getting Inspired, and Sticking To It! by Kristi Holl.

Writer’s First Aid is divided into four sections for easy reference: “Getting Started,” “Work Habits That Work for You,” “Money and Other Practical Matters,” and “Creating the Writing Life You Want.”

When a writer is experiencing a particular problem, he or she can turn to the section of the book covering that topic and find 10 articles. These range from the very practical (in the work habits section) to inspirational and challenging (in the section on creating the writing life you want).

Articles in Writer’s First Aid fit the busy writer’s schedule: long enough to be helpful, yet short enough to be read during ten-minute breaks.

Think of Writer’s First Aid as a medicine chest, full of good things for what ails many writers. Medicine chests contain items that kill pain, bind up wounds, bring restoration, and increase vitality.

Order the book here.

Everyone on staff at the NWFCC wishes you the BEST holiday season EVER!

Illustrated by: J.otto Seibold

Hardback: 40 pages
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Ages: 3 and up

Publisher: Chronicle Books

ISBN: 978-0-8118-5719-2

Publication: September 2007 (original publication 1997)

Olive, the Other Reindeer was originally published in 1997, and this new Deluxe Edition marks the tenth anniversary of this Christmas favorite.

As Olive the dog was listening to the radio, she heard a song about “Olive, the other reindeer” and realized that she must be a reindeer after all. She immediately headed to the North Pole. Even though she was a dog, Santa gave Olive a chance, and she joined the other reindeer in pulling the sleigh. At the end of their long night, Olive used her keen sense of smell to help guide Santa’s sleigh back home. To her surprise, Santa’s Christmas gift to Olive was her very own set of antlers.

This new edition is loaded with tons flaps to lift, tabs to pull, and fragrant scratch and sniff panels. There is an amazing pop-up “grand finale” at the end of the book, too! Children will fall in love with this new version of Olive, the Other Reindeer, just as they did the original.

Children’s writers everywhere look forward to this guide every year.

It’s packed with helpful articles, tips, and other information about children’s publishing.

Read more about the Children’s Writer Guide to 2008 and order your copy TODAY!