FIVE STAR REVIEW

The picture book, THE GOAT THAT ATE THE REMOTE by Eunice Pera Hafemeister and illustrated by Alicia Schwab has been awarded a five-star-review!

THE GOAT THAT ATE THE REMOTE, by Eunice Pera Hafemeister and illustrated by Alicia Schwab, Beaver’s Pond Press

Buy this book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Itasca Books

https://www.readerviews.com/
The Goat that Ate the Remote
Eunice Pera Hafemeister
Beaver’s Pond Press (2024)
ISBN: 978-1643439778
Reviewed by Lindsay DeRollo for Reader Views (12/2024)
5*- A Humorous and Lighthearted Story

 

“The Goat that Ate the Remote” by Eunice Pera Hafemeister is a humorous and lighthearted story about a young goat named Gertie and her very strange (and silly!) discovery. Gertie isn’t feeling well one day, so her family takes her into the living room corner to relax and recover while they watch TV. Yet every time someone begins to enjoy watching their favorite TV show, Gertie hiccups, and the channel changes on its own. What’s wrong with the TV...or, more likely, what’s wrong with Gertie? They’re in for a big surprise!

What a cute story! Author Eunice Pera Hafemeister does a stellar job of getting across the sweet message of this book in a comical way that children can understand. Always show kindness to someone (especially when they’re not feeling well) and be a helping hand. Make sure they get plenty of rest when they are sick in a quiet and comfortable setting. If strange things ever begin to happen (like the TV channels changing by themselves!), ask a grown-up for help. Lastly, a good laugh is always a pleasant relief in any type of situation (and a great story to tell!).

The characters in this story are very friendly, authentic, and relatable. They illustrate a wonderfully warm family connection. Gertie is a spirited young goat that her family is very lucky to have! Her vibrant personality truly takes center stage, which is also evident in her bright and animated facial expressions throughout the story. Children will adore the cute and colorful illustrations that will draw them right into the story.

The setting of the story is very natural and serene, beautifully illustrated by Alicia Schwab. It made me feel like I was right there in the countryside atmosphere and the warmth of their home. My favorite part of the story is when Gertie hiccups and they all solve the mystery at the end with a good laugh (and who doesn’t enjoy a good laugh with family?).

I highly recommend “The Goat that Ate the Remote” by Eunice Pera Hafemeister to children ages four and up to read and enjoy. This book is geared towards children of all backgrounds. I guarantee you they will love this heartwarming and entertaining story and will want to read it again and again.

A spread from THTHE GOAT THAT ATE THE REMOTE, by Eunice Pera Hafemeister and illustrated by Alicia Schwab, Beaver’s Pond Press

Book Awards - LITE: The High Treason Incident

We're flying high! Our #MG #book, LITE THE HIGH TREASON INCIDENT, has won 4 awards!

LITE middle grade book cover book awards

Available at: Bookshop, B&N, Amazon, and Itasca Books

http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=2516

https://moonbeamawards.com/107/2024

https://www.storymonstersbookawards.com/purple-dragonfly-winners/purple-2024

https://www.agrobertsauthor.com/

https://www.aliciaschwab.com/

Guest Blogger: Writer's Rumpus

https://writersrumpus.com/2024/02/09/embracing-connection-the-joy-of-returning-to-in-person-conferences/

EMBRACING CONNECTION: THE JOY OF RETURNING TO IN-PERSON CONFERENCES

This article (by Carrie Pearson) describes how we are beyond the Pandemic era of ZOOM-only conferences. Unfortunately, that isn’t entirely the case for me but I appreciate being included in two of the images in the post. I will be cheering on the SCBWI Conference goers from my home studio.

Alicia Schwab illustration

In 2019, I won the PEOPLES CHOICE AWARD (Honorable Mention) at the SCBWI Marvelous Midwest Conference.

Photo: Alicia Schwab, Jonathan Bing, and Louise Aamodt.

The SCBWI Marvelous Midwest conference theme in 2019 was, “County Fair”. Here I am with my good friends: Jonathan Bing and Louise Aamodt wearing our costumes for the festivities. We had a ball!

Take two!

I recently posted my standing/walking/reading desk. Well, I took it all apart and redesigned it to stand completely free of the treadmill. When I walked, the treadmill jiggled and made reading the bouncing words on the page too hard. Look! Now with my new design, it’s easier to see the numbers on the control panel.

Why go through all this trouble? I want to read more, but I’m sitting too much. And, I need to exercise more, but exercise is boring. The desk for this treadmill is below my waistline and makes reading down there impossible. So, I made the desk really tall so I could read with my type of glasses without looking down.

I repurposed plumbing traps as feet to keep my reading tower from tipping over. I love it!

Cover Reveal & Enter to Win a Portfolio Review!

Thank you, Vivian Kirkfield for hosting our UNICYCLE DAD cover reveal on her blog! https://viviankirkfield.com/ Enter to win a portfolio critique #giveaway from ALICIA! And a manuscript review from SARAH HOVORKA. Go to Vivian's blog to enter. Vivian will draw a winner by the end of October.

UNICYCLE DAD

written by Sarah Hovorka and illustrated by Alicia Schwab
Amicus Ink, March 12th, 2024!
You can pre-order the book here.
 @amicus_publishing @authorsarahhovorka @viviankirkfield

Spirits Dancing Cover reveal

Here is the cover I designed. Preorder a copy of SPIRITS DANCING The Night Sky, Indigenous Knowledge, and Living Connections to the Cosmos

Photography by Travis Novitsky, Text by Annette S. Lee

Minnesota Historical Society Press (November 7, 2023)

An exploration of human connection to the aurora, the Milky Way, and the wonder of the universe above us, with gorgeous photographs by a master photographer.

Read full description

I enjoyed designing this cover. Travis Novitsky’s photography is stunning.

Cover design: Alicia Schwab

South Shore Community Magazine

Massachusetts illustrator Olivia Pinney is featured in this article from the spring/summer edition of South Shore Community Magazine where Pinney lives. She was one of 16 illustrators (including me) that created art for Freeman Ng’s picture book THE HOUSE WE SHELTERED IN / THE MASKS WE WORE.

The book is about the pandemic and how the world learned to live during this challenging time in our history. A dual volume: two stories that start from each end of a flippable book. The flippable dual structure of the book seemed a natural expression of its yin-yang nature. The first poem, The House We Sheltered In, is inward-looking. It’s about comfort and security. The second poem, The Masks We Wore, is outward-looking, about the actions we took in the world to combat the virus.

Order your copy today at www.pandemicpb.com

White Bear Press

August 9, 2023: Fellow illustrators Annie Kuhn and Sara Nintzel are featured in the White Bear Press paper on our picture book, THE HOUSE WE SHELTERED IN / THE MASKS WE WORE.

They were some of the 16 illustrators (including me) that created art for Freeman Ng’s picture book.

The book is about the pandemic and how the world learned to live during this challenging time in our history. The book is two stories that begin at each end of the book and conclude in the center of the book. Freeman Ng lives in St. Paul and has been writing poetry for thirty years.

Order your copy today at www.pandemicpb.com

Pioneer Press, St. Paul, MN

On June 23, 2023, my local paper, the Pioneer Press, ran a feature on our book, THE HOUSE WE SHELTERED IN / THE MASKS WE WORE, written by Freeman Ng and illustrated by 16 illustrators (including me).

The book is about the pandemic and how the world learned to live during this challenging time in our history. The book is about the pandemic and how the world learned to live during this challenging time in our history. A dual volume: two stories that start from each end of a flippable book. The flippable dual structure of the book seemed a natural expression of its yin-yang nature. The first poem, The House We Sheltered In, is inward-looking. It’s about comfort and security. The second poem, The Masks We Wore, is outward-looking, about the actions we took in the world to combat the virus.

Order your copy today at www.pandemicpb.com

Sun Sailor Newspaper

On August 18, 2023, my local Twin Cities paper, the Sun Sailor, ran a feature on our book, THE HOUSE WE SHELTERED IN / THE MASKS WE WORE, written by Freeman Ng and illustrated by 16 illustrators.

The book is about the pandemic and how the world learned to live during this challenging time in our history. A dual volume: two stories that start from each end of a flippable book. The flippable dual structure of the book seemed a natural expression of its yin-yang nature. The first poem, The House We Sheltered In, is inward-looking. It’s about comfort and security. The second poem, The Masks We Wore, is outward-looking, about the actions we took in the world to combat the virus.

Order your copy today at www.pandemicpb.com

SUN SAILOR NEWSPAPER

YAY! We have an article in the local SUN SAILOR paper covering Minnetonka, Excelsior, Eden Prairie, Plymouth, Wayzata, St. Louis Park and Hopkins, Minnesota.

https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_sailor/free/plymouth-author-contributes-to-dual-volume-picture-book-about-pandemic-life/article_89a8fe90-0a30-11ee-b0fc-3b8c74887e72.html

The House We Sheltered In / The Masks We Wore is a dual volume: two stories that start from each end of a flippable book. Each poem begins at the cover and ends in the middle of the book.

Three Daughters Press, 2023

ISBN: 978-0-9906197-9-6

Written by poet and author Freeman Ng and illustrated by a team of 14 artists:

Alicia Schwab, Annie Kuhn, Brigitte West, Cheryl Ann Warren, Eshanthie Tyner, Gabriela Vega, Haley Grunloh, Jessica Chrysler, Juliana Castro, Rebecca Hoenig, Ruby Michelle, Sara Nintzel, Olivia Pinney, and Wendy Roble.

Buy this book!

COVER REVEAL

TICKET TO GLIDE : THE TWIN CITIES’ 50 BEST SPOTS FOR KAYAKING

If you are a kayaker, you are in for a treat! Minnesota is the “land of 10,000 lakes.” There are countless great places to kayak in the Twin Cities alone, but how do you know where to go? Bob Shaw describes the Twin Cities’ fifty best spots for kayaking in this guidebook.

Alicia Schwab used her information design skills to create concise maps of different areas of the greater Twin Cities metro, including major roadways, hundreds of lakes, marshes, ponds—and the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix rivers.

More information on where to buy this book is coming soon!

READING WEDNESDAYS

My latest book is finally out LITE: THE HIGH TREASON INCIDENT, witten by A. G. Roberts and illustrated by Alicia Schwab. This middle-grade fantasy is available, May 10th, 2022.

I’M GIVING AWAY ONE FREE SIGNED-COPY. To enter, all you have to do is sign up for my monthly newsletter.

PURCHASE LINKS: AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE, & ITASCA BOOKS.

Check out my book trailer!

Merion is a young mouse who has worked hard to overcome her physical disability and earn her place as a messenger for the Royal Message Service of her country, Lyleechee. When she stumbles upon a plan of high treason, however, her life is upended. In this crisis the intelligence agency LITE is reestablished by Xander Shadow and Merion is recruited to the newly formed LITE Academy as an agent in training. Before she finishes, she will be called upon to use her cunning, courage, and daring to help foil the plot to take over Lyleechee.

READING WEDNESDA

April is Autism Awareness Month

THE SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR KIDS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS (AND THEIR PARENTS), by Elizabeth Verdick and Elizabeth Reeve, M.D.

More children’s books about AUTISM!

And even more books…

Books about mighty Autistic girls…

Well, what is Autism? Good question. “It is estimated that one in 68 children are now diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum disorder. And yet, this diagnosis remains as misunderstood as ever.” Autism is called a “spectrum disorder” because it “actually covers a wide scope of complex disorders in brain development.” No two people with autism spectrum disorder are alike. Think of it like an “original recipe” containing similar ingredients, each with different measurements and some ommissions. People with Autism may require different amounts of support, Level 1 up through Level 3 for their daily activities.

Kids with complex spectrum disorders are referred to as “neurodivergent” because their brains are different. Many famous folks have this difference. Being different can be a superpower if you figure out how to harness it.

DIFFERENT: A GREAT THING TO BE! by Heather Avis and Sarah Mensinga

There is a lot of resources and information about Autism. Here are a few:

https://iacc.hhs.gov/meetings/autism-awareness-month/2022/
https://www.pacer.org
https://ausm.org
https://islandsofbrilliance.org

Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Laugh and Learn books (for all kids)

Most kids learn the social rules by playing and interacting with peers and adults. A lot of this is through “non-verbal” language. But if you can’t read the room, learning what to do and not to do out may not be straightforward.

Some people on the spectrum are unable to talk. While others can talk but may struggle with the certain aspects of holding a conversation.

HOW ARE YOU PEELING?: FOOD WITH MOODS, by Saxton Freeman and Joost Elffers. This book of photos delights in the unusual shapes our food comes in that remind us of people.

Humans are also wired to see faces and understand the emotion from that face by the expression. But for many kids on the spectrum it is harder to process “non-verbal” communication, such as:

  • Facial expressions

  • Body movement and posture. ...

  • Gestures. ...

  • Eye contact. ...

  • Touch. ...

  • Space. ...

  • Voice. ...

  • Pay attention to inconsistencies.

Humans don’t only communicate with speech, a lot of information is conveyed through the non-verbal cues listed above. Imagine two people having a conversation, in addition to the verbal language being shared the non-verbal (NV) cues travel back and forth on conveyor belts between them. However, for one individual the conveyor belt is moving faster than they can process the non-verbal (NV) information. The non-verbal communication falls off the belt into the abyss. This individual loses a large part of the conversation’s meaning.

DICTIONARY OF IDIOMS, by Marvin Terban

And finally, did you know idioms appear in every language? However, some people on the spectrum may be quite literal, making learning idioms a challenge. For someone who is very literal this can open a can of worms because the whole group of words taken together can often have little to do with the words taken one by one.

Another fun look at the minefield of the English language is the fiction series of Amelia Bedelia books.


This concludes this brief overview about Autism and SEL. You can find more information, products, and books here.