The Soaring '20s Gift Guide

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By the Soaring ‘20s

When I was about twelve, I dove under the Christmas tree and hauled out three gift boxes heavy enough to contain coal. After peeling off the five or six layers of wrapping paper my Papi had delighted in double-sealing with Scotch-tape, I saw the Macy’s boxes and crossed my fingers. To my delight, Polaroid camera film filled one box and in the other two, about three month’s worth of nightmares. Stacks of Stephen King and John Saul novels, not coal, were the gifts that would feed my imagination for months.

The next holiday season, my parents thought it was time for me to choose my gifts, gave me cash, and released me into the mall expecting I’d come home with clothes and jewelry. To their horror, I came home with bags and bags of books from Barnes & Noble and was never trusted again to shop without supervision.

Don’t expect anything less of me now. I will never stop believing that books aren’t always the perfect gift for any occasion. So today, I am your Book Titi sharing with you all of the magical delights the creators of the Soaring ’20s have in store for you. And bonus! They have paired their books with all sorts of theme-related goodies for your children to enjoy, with shopping links for your convenience.

We Soarers are so grateful for your support of our work and for the absolute gift of being able to create for children. We wish you and your family safety, peace, love, and joy—now and always.

— NoNieqa Ramos, author of YOUR MAMA, forthcoming April 6, 2021

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SOAKED! by Abi Cushman

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SOAKED!, signed copy, Bank Square Books Bookstore

Kids’ Puddle Stompers, L.L. Bean

Custom Child Hula-Hoop, Hoops & Company

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INVENT-A-PET by Vicky Fang, illustrated by Tidawan Thaipinnarong

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INVENT-A-PET signed copy (leave comment at checkout), Lindentree Books Bookstore

Felt Friends Stickers, Melissa & Doug

Plushie fish, Stuffed Safari

Free Activity Sheet

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CLYDE THE HIPPO series by Keith Marantz, illustrated by Larissa Marantz

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CLYDE THE HIPPO signed series set, Tiddlywinks Toys

Mellow Mallow Hippo Stuffed Animal, Tiddlywinks Toys

Butterfly Garden, Tiddlywinks Toys

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NO FUZZBALL! by Isabella Kung

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NO FUZZBALL!, Bookshop link

No Fuzzball! Vinyl Sticker sheet, Etsy

No Fuzzball! Totebag, Etsy

Cat ear and tail costume set, Etsy

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LOUIS by Tom Lichtenheld, illustrated by Julie Rowan-Zoch

LOUIS, Bookshop link

Crescent Moon Lamp, Crate and Kids

Free crochet pattern for baby piggie booties, Croby Patterns

Sheet set with cloud motif, Temple and Webster

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LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS by Joana Pastro, illustrated by Jhon Ortiz

LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS, Bookshop link

Music Box, Etsy

Kid’s Apron and Chef Hat, Etsy

Laptop Cover and Pencil Case, Etsy

Sponge Cakes Craft, The Craft Train

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SATURDAYS ARE FOR STELLA by Candy Wellins, illustrated by Charlie Eve Ryan

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SATURDAYS ARE FOR STELLA, Bookshop link

Toy record player, Fat Brain Toys

Fleece dinosaur hat, Etsy

Felt cinnamon rolls, Etsy 

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THE ELEPHANTS’ GUIDE TO HIDE-AND-SEEK by Kjersten Hayes, illustrated by Gladys Jose

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THE ELEPHANTS’ GUIDE TO HIDE-AND-SEEK, Bookshop link

Elephant stuffed animal, the San Diego Zoo

Pipe Cleaners to make glasses for your elephant, Launching Success Toy Store

Tickets to a local zoo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums

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DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS by Carrie Finison, illustrated by Brianne Farley

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DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS, Bookshop link

Play Felt Doughnuts, Etsy

Cat Donut Memory Match Game, Mud Puppy

Doughnut Baking Pan and Mix, Stonewall Kitchen

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SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS: A TALE OF MUSIC AND MATH By Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan

SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS, Bookshop link

Gold Hula Hoops, Etsy

Binary Math Toy, Target

Mandala Coloring Book, Thriftbooks

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MUSLIM GIRLS RISE: INSPIRATIONAL CHAMPIONS OF OUR TIME by Saira Mir, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel

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MUSLIM GIRLS RISE, Bookshop link

Ibtihaj Barbie, Mattel

Illuminated Globe for Kids, Child’s Play

Ultimate Fudge Brownie Recipe, Amanda Saab

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NO VOICE TOO SMALL: FOURTEEN YOUNG AMERICANS MAKING HISTORY edited by Lindsay H. Metcalf, Keila V. Dawson, and Jeanette Bradley, illustrated by Bradley

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NO VOICE TOO SMALL, Bookshop link

Megaphone Speaker Lightweight Bullhorn, Pyle

Speaker of the House T-shirt, Etsy

MARCH: A Journal for Activism, Bookshop link

Mari Copeny Kid Activist Doll, Lottie

Magnetic Poetry Little Box of Strength, Magnetic Poetry

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DIGGING FOR WORDS: JOSÉ ALBERTO GUTIÉRREZ AND THE LIBRARY HE BUILT by Angela Burke Kunkel, illustrated by Paola Escobar

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DIGGING FOR WORDS, Bookshop link

Toy recycling truck, Green Toys

Waves and sun bookends, Etsy

Kids’ Little Prince T-shirt, Out Of Print

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FARMERS UNITE! PLANTING A PROTEST FOR FAIR PRICES by Lindsay H. Metcalf

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FARMERS UNITE!, Bookshop link

Little Pal Steel 8-1/4 in. W x 27 in. L Mini Round Point Shovel Wood Handle, Ace

Pizza Garden, Backyard Safari Co

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THE VOICE THAT WON THE VOTE: HOW ONE WOMAN’S WORDS MADE HISTORY by Elisa Boxer, illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger

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THE VOICE THAT WON THE VOTE, Signed, personalized copies from Print: A Bookstore

Cotton canvas tote bag, Print: A Bookstore

VOTE LIKE A MOTHER merchandise, Vote Like A Mother

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BEATRIX POTTER, SCIENTIST By Lindsay H. Metcalf, illustrated by Junyi Wu

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BEATRIX POTTER, SCIENTIST, Bookshop Link

Take-it-anywhere microscope, Lakeshore Learning

Oyster mushroom kit, A Mighty Girl

Nancy B’s mighty microbes lab and gem journal, Rainbow Resource Center

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WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: EMMA LILIAN TODD INVENTS AN AIRPLANE By Kirsten W. Larson, illustrated by Tracy Subisak

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WOOD, WIRE, WINGS, Bookshop Link

Guillo’s airplane design studio, Fat Brain Toys

200 paper airplanes to fold and fly, My Pilot Store

Lego Heartlake City airplane set, Lego

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CLARINET & TRUMPET By Melanie Ellsworth, illustrated by John Herzog

(pre-order for delivery in March 2021)

CLARINET AND TRUMPET, Bookshop link

CD: Can you hear it? The Met store

Trumpet ornament, Etsy

Clarinet ornament, Etsy

Donate your old instrument to a child or local music group, Hungry for Music

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HOW TO WEAR A SARI By Darshana Khiani, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

(pre-order for delivery in June 2021)

HOW TO WEAR A SARI, signed copies from Hicklebee’s

Indian doll clothes, Etsy

Kid-size bangles, Etsy

DIY handmade paper doll sari craft, Skill Flair

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SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS Book Birthday: Reflecting on Medicine and Writing

By Rajani LaRocca

I’m so excited that my debut picture book, SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS: A TALE OF MUSIC AND MATH, is releasing today! It is gorgeously illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan and is published by Lee & Low Books.

The story is set in ancient India and follows a boy named Bhagat who wants to bring his family out of poverty by winning a place in the rajah’s court as a singer.

Interior spread from SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS, written by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan.

As he prepares to leave on his long journey to the rajah’s city, Bhagat brings with him all that his family has left in the world: a single rupee coin and a chain of seven tiny golden rings. Bhagat’s mother blesses him and reminds him, “Bhagat, you are a fine singer. But you are an even finer thinker.”

 As it turns out, when it’s time for Bhagat to find a place to stay in the city, he is faced with a mathematical puzzle. He must pay the innkeeper one ring per night in advance, and it costs one coin to break one link in his chain of seven. But Bhagat only has a single coin, and he doesn’t know how many nights he will need to stay. How can Bhagat find a way to divide the chain of seven rings in order to pay one ring per night and avoid overpaying? As he walks through the city contemplating this conundrum, his mother’s words come back to him.

Interior spread from SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS, written by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan.

In the end, Bhagat succeeds in an unexpected way—and it is his thinking as well as his singing that saves the day.

This story was one of the first picture book texts I ever wrote—one of the stories that taught me how to write a picture book. I first drafted it in 2013, and it took me almost seventy drafts before I felt it was “ready” in 2017. We sold it to my wonderful editor, Cheryl Klein, in 2018, and here we are in 2020 with its release. It was well worth the wait!

But my journey to becoming a writer has been even longer.

I was a kid who was obsessed with books.

Rajani at age 8

I also loved writing, but I knew I didn’t want to pursue it as a career. I was in a creative writing class in high school—a class I loved—when I told my teacher, “I really enjoy writing, but I know I want to become a doctor.”

That teacher, Mr. Herzfeld, told me, “Who says you have to choose?” And he introduced me to the works of several authors also happened to be doctors, including Richard Seltzer, William Carlos Williams, and Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

And although I already knew what I was going to do with my professional life, that planted a seed in my mind.

Years later, after college and medical school and residency, I did indeed become a practicing physician. I made some of the best friends of my life, friends who share the same values of helping people stay healthy and easing their suffering when they are ill. And I loved my career in medicine. I still do.

Dr. LaRocca

But eventually, when I’d become established in my practice and my kids were older, I felt a yearning to return to something creative. And that seed planted by my teacher years earlier began to grow and bear fruit. I started taking writing classes again—first online, and then in person, and I met fellow writers who would become my critique partners and some of my closest friends, who share my love of creating beautiful stories for children. And I kept writing, and learning, and writing.

And then, after a few years, I signed with my marvelous agent, Brent Taylor of TriadaUS. He loved my work, and we started submitting manuscripts to editors. And after the rollercoaster ride that is publishing, we sold a book. And then another. And then another. And on and on, until today, when we have eleven books under contract!

I could have closed the door on writing all those years ago. I could have told myself it was enough to have a career I loved. But I’m so grateful I didn’t talk myself out of the possibility of having two careers I love, two careers that challenge me and nourish me and bring me joy in unexpected ways. And like Bhagat, I’m grateful that early on, I had someone in my life who believed in me and told me I didn’t have to choose, that maybe I could do both.

So today, on the book birthday of my debut picture book, I’m also celebrating the idea of not letting anyone limit what you can be . . . including yourself.

Book Details

SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS:
A Tale of Music and Math

by Rajani LaRocca, Illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan

Pub Date: October 27
ISBN: 978-1885008978
Publisher: Lee & Low

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Rajani LaRocca was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Boston area with her wonderful family and impossibly cute dog. She spends her time writing novels and picture books when she’s not practicing medicine. Her middle grade debut, MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM (Yellow Jacket/Little Bee Books), was a Kirkus Best Middle Grade Book of 2019 and a 2020 Massachusetts Book Award Honor title. Her debut picture book, SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS: A Tale of Music and Math (Lee & Low Books) involves a math puzzle and an explanation of binary numbers and earned starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly. Her forthcoming middle grade novel-in-verse, Red, White, and Whole (Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins) will publish in February 2021 and involves heritage and fitting in, science and poetry, Hindu mythology and ’80s pop music. You can learn about her other forthcoming books at RajaniLaRocca.com and find her on Twitter and Instagram @rajanilarocca.

Happy Book Birthday, LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS!

By Joana Pastro

Please pinch me!

My debut picture book, LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS is out in the world today! Hooray! It’s been a five-year journey, filled with ups and downs, a lot of learning, and willingness to try new paths. And then 2020 came along and, well, we all had to adjust to a new normal. Still, I couldn’t be more excited!

LillyBelle, a Damsel Not in Distress, published by Boyds Mills & Kane

LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS is the story of a little girl who attends a school for damsels and loves everything about it, except for one rule. That rule states that damsels are supposed to wait for rescue if captured by a villain and never attempt to escape. LillyBelle doesn’t like that rule at all. Soon enough, she has the opportunity to prove it wrong and show the world that girls can very well save themselves.

Here’s the book trailer my son made to celebrate it:

 When I wrote the first draft of LillyBelle, I wanted girls to feel empowered. That was the most important takeaway to me. But as I revised, other themes emerged, which made Lillybelle relatable to a much wider audience and hopefully with deeper takeaways. So, since LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS is a fairy tale, I’ll play fairy godmother and bestow upon it a few wishes: 

Illustration by Jhon Ortiz.

1. That gatekeepers—parents, grandparents, librarians, teachers—identify the importance of this book for all children, and help it reach the hands of children of all genders, without judgement. It is not a “girls’ ” book. It's a children's book.

I hope girls will feel empowered, and that the book will reinforce to boys that girls are equals and that their stories matter.

2. That children learn to stand up for themselves and see that their problems can be solved by using their knowledge and friendliness. That when confronted with a problem, crying, yelling or violence doesn’t help. Bottom line, I hope they understand that life is much easier—and happier—when we deal with conflicts in a peaceful way.

Illustration by Jhon Ortiz.

3. That children learn to accept the differences between people—damsels, ogres, witches and giants—and better yet, celebrate them!

Now that I’ve played fairy godmother, it’s time to thank the people who helped make this book a dream come true. Many thanks to:

1. My family and my critique partners for all their support.

2. My former agent Natascha Morris, and my former editor Jes Negrón for believing in LillyBelle and me.

3. Jhon Ortiz for making LillyBelle come to life with his fabulous art.

4. The whole team at Boyds Mills & Kane, and BookEnds Literary Agency.

5. And last but not least, the Soaring ’20s debut group. Being a new author in 2020 hasn’t been easy, but together we’re making it happen. It’s been an amazing journey!

Illustration by Jhon Ortiz.

Let’s keep the party going!

Please stop by the @MindyAlyseWeiss and @JoPastro Twitter accounts from 10/21-10/25 for a fun-filled contest and a chance to win prizes.

Book Details

LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL
NOT IN DISTRESS

by Joana Pastro, Illustrated by Jhon Ortiz

Pub Date: October 20
ISBN: 978-1635922967
Publisher: Boyds Mills & Kane

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Much like LillyBelle, Joana Pastro loves a good tea party . . . or any party, really! When not writing, you can find Joana baking (and eating) delicious desserts, singing as loud as she can, or twirling around the house. Also, like LillyBelle, Joana thinks good manners are of the utmost importance — just ask her kids. LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS is her first book. Her second book, BISA’S CARNAVAL releases in fall ’21. Born and raised in Brazil, Joana now lives in Florida with her husband, her three kids and one rambunctious Morkie. Visit her at www.joanapastro.com, on Twitter @jopastro, and on Instagram @joanapastro.