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Well, hey-hey-hey, we’ve got a couple new early reader friends here today!
Say hello to FRANK AND BEAN!
I’m eager to eat…er, I mean…MEET them, so I sat down with the fellas to have a frank conversation.
So Frank, you’re quite the solitary, secret fellow. What did you first think when Bean came along?
In three words: short, round, and jarring. Frankly, he’s a loud bean.
Frank’s got a point there, Bean. Why are you so LOUD?
WHAT’S THAT? *banging on drum* WHY AM I SO PROUD?
BECAUSE I’M A ONE-BEAN BAND. LISTEN TO THIS! *crashes cymbals* *toots horn* *bangs gong*
Crash! Toot! Gooooooong!
Bean! She said loud, not proud. Why are you so loud?
Me? Loud? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I am exuberant.
Well, we’ve got one quiet and one loud here. Does your friendship prove that opposites really do attract?
We’re different, but we’re the same in one way. We’re both like to use our imagination and be creative. I make up songs, but I have a hard time coming up with their words. Frank is a writer who keeps a Secret Notebook. What do you write in there, Frank?
Bean, shhh! We can’t give away the end of our story. These people haven’t read it yet.
Oh. Right. HEY, FRANK!
Bean, you don’t have to shout. I’m on the same page as you.
We forgot that we have something else in common too, Frank. We both like jelly donut holes. And Frank? I like you too.
Aw. Thanks, Bean.
Well, your story ends on an interesting note, guys. Do you want to give us a little hint about what may come next?
Sure! Our next adventure is about creativity too. But it’s about creativity in the kitchen. Or a food truck. Bean gets a big idea to compete in the forest’s food truck contest.
Will we win, Frank?
I don’t know. The book isn’t done yet. But I bet we’ll have fun.
Me too. Because we totally rock! *crashes cymbals* *toots horn*
Gooooooong!
Well, now I need a couple of Tylenol…extra strength…fast acting…
Let’s take a look at the WORLD PREMIERE BOOK TRAILER!
FRANK AND BEAN is an adorable new early reader series from author Jamie Michalak and illustrator Bob Kolar, published by Candlewick. There’s full-color delight on every page, perfect for kids who are moving beyond picture books but don’t want to leave the best part—THE PICTURES!!!—behind. These pals have a tiny bit of a rough (and loud) start to their friendship, but they realize their strengths complement each other in perfect harmony.
If you’d like to win a copy of FRANK AND BEAN, leave a comment about what makes friendship so special.
One winner will be randomly selected very soon, because Tara has a lot of giveaways for which she needs to pick winners. So she’ll do it all in one fell swoop!
Good luck!
To follow this tour, you don’t even need a VW minibus! (But that would be more fun.)
by Tami Charles
When Tara asked me to write a “Success Story” for PiBoIdMo (now Storystorm), I thought to myself:
Hooray!
I get to be one of the cool kids, like Tara!
I AM a success…right? RIGHT?
And then that familiar feeling surfaced:
I have no clue what I’m doing.
Any second now the literary gods will figure this out.
But all writers face this, I assume. That self-crippling doubt. Followed by euphoria. Only to return back to that place of doubt all over again.
C’est la vie!
Growing up, I never knew I could be an author. Sure, I loved to read and write. But it never dawned on me that I could write books like Beverly Cleary or Lois Lowry. While I loved Ramona Quimby and Anastasia Krupnik, they didn’t necessarily reflect me or the friends I grew up with. So, knowing this, I tucked that author dream in my pocket and moved on to become an elementary school teacher. I don’t regret this decision one bit. My students were the ones who helped me rediscover my passion. Thanks to them, I began writing again.
PiBoIdMo came at the “write” time in my life. (See what I just did there?) When I finished the challenge in 2013, I had several ideas and even a few manuscripts under my belt—all tossed into the black hole never to be seen again, naturally. But there was this one story that I kept returning to. Not because it was awful. (Not because it was any good at the time, either!) But because this story helped me realize the type of writer I wanted to be.
“Freedom Soup” is a story born out of love and family tradition. Early in my twenty-year friendship with my husband, his family introduced me to the delicious flavors of Haiti. They weren’t that far off from the Caribbean/Soul/Latin cuisine that I’d enjoyed as a child. Dare I say, I fell in love with Haitian food before I fell for my husband! (He doesn’t need to know that though.)
My husband’s late grandmother, Tí gran, was the one who gave me my very first bowl of Freedom Soup, also known as Soup joumou. As soon as I tasted it, I knew there had to be a story behind that taste of pride, victory, and joy. Seriously, if you haven’t tasted this soup, I suggest you find yourself some Haitian friends stat!
In a nutshell, “Freedom Soup” is written in tribute to the undying spirit of the Haitian people. Today, many people associate Haiti with poverty and earthquakes. But long ago, on January 1, 1804, Haiti made history as the first black republic to free themselves from the bondage of slavery. When slavery still existed on the island, slave masters rang in the New Year by eating Freedom Soup. They didn’t grow the vegetables or prepare the soup, of course. Their slaves did that for them. And for all of their hard work, slaves were not even allowed to eat the soup to celebrate the New Year. After twelve years of uprisings and fighting for their freedom, Haiti claimed their independence from France. Do you know how they celebrated? By eating Freedom Soup, of course! What a testament to their faith and resilience!
Before writing this picture book, I’d received plenty of rejections from literary agents and editors. And rightfully so. I wasn’t writing what spoke to me. I’m so grateful that this story
did. I’m happy to announce that “Freedom Soup” sold to Carter Hasegawa at Candlewick Press. I have so much to be thankful for:
- Following my gut and creating stories that reflect the beautiful cultures in my family
- Tí gran and the wisdom she shared with me before leaving this Earth
- Storystorm for giving me the kick-in-the-butt inspiration I needed to jumpstart the sale of my debut picture book
- For the chance to appear on Good Morning America, where I presented a Thanksgiving version of my Freedom Soup. (Michael Strahan smelled nice and all, but not better than my soup…just sayin’.)
GOOD MORNING AMERICA – Ocean Spray sponsors GMA’s ultimate cranberry challenge on “Good Morning America,” Tuesday, November 22, 2016, airing on ABC. (ABC/Lou Rocco)
I don’t know how much of a success I am right now, and I’m not sure if I’ll ever feel comfortable with calling myself that. I mean this could all change if I hit Tara Lazar status. Then I can puff out my chest and say “Why yes, I am quite the success, aren’t I?” (in a British accent, of course!)
In the meantime, I’ll just keep writing the stories that matter to me and collecting all the nuggets of wisdom I can along the way. And for the aspiring authors out there, I wish you success and prosperity as you do the same.
Congratulations, Tami. Best wishes for the launch of Freedom Soup in Fall 2019 (when I hope you’ll come back to show it off)…and for a long and prosperous kidlit career!
You can visit Tami Charles online at tamiwrites.com and follow her on Twitter @TamiWritesStuff.
Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) 