*Highlighting up and coming illustrators and authors from independent publishing houses and self-publishers*

Please reach out to MaiStoryBook through Instagram, FB, or by commenting on my blog, and *share or tag* books, authors, or illustrators who would fit into this category of independent/self publishing! I’m excited for the wonders we will find!

Now without further ado~

This week’s featured *foodie fun* books:

Germaine Cabbagehead: Flamin’ Hots by Ramone L. Outlaw

Published by CreateSpace: Amazon independent publishing platform offering tools and services that help authors complete their books

Ever had *or still have* that one snack bag of deliciousness that you could just never put away? ~Just a handful~ becomes *half the bag gone* …turning into     -just one more handful…- ending with *hand hits the end of the bag* – Hey, who ate them all??? Anyone who’s ever tried a Flamin’ HOT cheetoh can relate. Germaine Cabbagehead sure can. He eats Flamin’ Hots for breakfast AND lunch, AND he would eat them for dinner if his dad didn’t make him eat vegetables… But even that’s not enough Flamin’ Hots for Germaine~ Children will laugh out loud with incredulity as Germaine brushes his teeth AND showers with Flamin’ Hots *p.s. do not attempt this at home~snack food in the shower is bound to be messier than clean* However, when Germaine is caught being dishonest to his father and loses the privilege of his Flamin’ Hots, can he find a way to win back his father’s trust ~ and his favorite food?  Germaine Cabbagehead reminds little ones of the importance of honesty and the value of apologies, through story bound to evoke a chuckle and giggles.

Author Ramone L. Outlaw not only writes at the perfect pitch for kids, but also illustrates with an eye-grabbing style, with colorful and bright spreads on each page. Dramatic, over-the-top facial expressions on all of the characters – Germaine, his Dad, even the cat – add to the comedic relief of a story that touches on the more serious subject of consequences and telling the truth. Little ones currently with a snack/foodie obsession will relate to Germaine and his love for Flamin Hots’. Set aside an afternoon to indulge in a bowl of your own and your child’s favorite snack, and dive into the world of Germaine Cabbagehead.

~ Plus: Check out this other cool Germaine Cabbagehead adventure: *Germaine Cabbagehead Goes Fishing* ~ taking the fun to the lake on a wild fishing adventure ~

A bit more about the Author: Ramone L. Outlaw

Ramone L. Outlaw is a teacher’s aide with the Erie School District in Pennsylvania. As a writer and an artist, he has self-published 5 books in the Germaine Cabbagehead series. Outlaw is passionate about creating diversity in the children’s book genre. It takes him about four months to write and illustrate one book, and the illustrations are created with a mixture of digital drawing and hand drawn artwork. His goal is to inspire kids to pursue their passions and goals. To learn more, follow him on Instagram @ugotdatt and Facebook.

Check here to find this book for your own home library!

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Samantha’s Silly-icious Sandwiches by Tina Powell

Published by Big Fat Pen Publishing Inc.: Independent publishing company started by Tina Powell

School lunches are a *big* deal. I remember eagerly unzipping my lunchbox each day, tummy rumbling and taste buds tingling, excitedly scanning the contents for the dessert and snack bag. In this *silly-licious* story, Samantha, underwhelmed with her usual salmon, salami, or Swiss cheese sandwiches, decides to take over sandwich making duties, and create her own *silly-licious*  sandwiches for lunch! Through this book abundant with alliteration~ little ones are exposed to creativity in the kitchen, and encouraged to expand their food choices and make healthy-eating decisions. Little ones will gasp with glee over Samantha’s *silly* creations~ *stir-fried-shrimp-and-sushi-submarine sandwiches* ~ *sardine-and-shish-kabob-sandwhiches* ~ Would you ever eat a Silly-licious Sandwich?? I’ve heard they’re delicious! *Bonus: Highlight the repeated “s” words and sounds while reading the story and ask your little one if they can think of any “s” foods to add to Samantha’s sandwiches*

Encourage your child to create their own silly-licious sandwich! Create silly-licious sandwich recipes, thinking of all the different whacky foods you could combine between two pieces of classic sandwich bread. For an extra challenge, follow along with the alliteration theme of the story, and try to create a sandwich using foods starting with all of the same letter! This story is abundant with literary devices and opportunities for interactive engagement~ the perfect book to fill an afternoon with delicious foodie fun!

~Plus: Check out these additional titles by Tina Powell *Also Alliteration Abundant and perfect for teaching phonemic awareness and letter/sound recognition*

A bit more about the Author: Tina Powell

Tina Powell is a Canadian award-winning author. After years spent writing as a journalist, Tina Powell decided to delve into the genre of children’s literature. Her books encourage healthy eating, physical fitness, and aim to improve literacy skills and phonemic awareness. Her books have been used to support programs such as Children’s Aid Society, Kids Help Phone, Jay’s Care Foundation, and Raise-a-Reader. She is a member of Canadian Children’s Book Centre and CANSCAIP. To learn more about Tina Powell, visit her site www.tinapowell.com and follow her on Instagram @tinamariepow.

Check here to find this book for your own home library!

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*~Support these independent/self-published authors and illustrators and check out what they’ve been writing and creating.  Please share any books, authors, or illustrators that fit into this category by tagging me on Instagram @MaiStoryBookLibrary,  posting on MaiStoryBook’s FaceBook page, or commenting on the blog below! I’m always looking for new treasures to read, support, and share with all of you!~*

*Plus, checkout out an interactive  read aloud of one of my current inspiring read alouds  here. *

*~Until Next Time, Happy Reading~*