*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~

Featuring this week’s animal-loving storybooks:

Sweet Pea and Mr. Grumpy by Kayla Andrews , Illustrated by Laura Catrinella W.

Self-Published by Kayla Andrews

Leap into Sweet Pea’s world of excitement, light, and joy! Meet Sweet Pea~ the most bubbly, lovable, and charming little girl~ View the world through her eyes, and it’s impossible not to fall in love with the wonders and joys of life all over again! At least, that is unless you are Mr. Grumpy the cat. Mr. Grumpy is a grouchy and moody fur ball, and believe it or not~ he’s Sweet Pea’s very best friend. With a heart big enough to love everyone and all, Sweet Pea becomes determined to turn Mr. Grumpy’s frown upside down. Join Sweet Pea as she attempts to cheer up Mr. Grumpy~ sing along to her favorite songs as she belts out lyrics at the top of her lungs *who can resist smiling when you sing full blast??*, sway to the rhythm as Sweet Pea shimmies, twirls, and grooves across the dance floor *who can’t be happy when rockin’  out to tunes?* , splash in a rainbow of paint, and dress up to strut around in glamorous clothes.

However, even when Sweet Pea’s bubbly disposition and glee fails to win over Mr. Grumpy’s happiness~there is one thing that Sweet Pea does every day, without even knowing it,  that makes Mr. Grumpy the happiest of all~You’ll have to check out this delightful book to find out! ~* Each page in this children’s book bursts with energy, color, and life. Sweet Pea shares her excitement and passion for every activity she participates in. Even if Mr. Grumpy doesn’t smile~ you are sure to crack a smile, and find your own *blues* fading away as you soak in the colorful illustrations and the bubbly writing on the page. An adorable read aloud to *shake off the blues,*.join Sweet Pea and Mr. Grumpy for an adventure-packed day!

A bit more about the Author: Kayla Andrews

Kayla Andrews is from the Bronx. Her little sister, Nala, inspired her to write Sweet Pea and Mr. Grumpy. Nala has autism, and she loves cats, and therefore Kayla wrote this book to dedicate to her sister. To learn more, follow Kayla on Instagram: @kayla_feyfey.

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

*****

I Will Always Love You by Carline Dumerlin-Folkes, Illustrated by Lea Embeli

Published by Creatspace: Offers tools to make publishing and distribution easier than ever. Manufacturing and shipping is taken care of.

To be loved unconditionally is to feel completely safe. In this ode to love~Mama Bear assures Little Bear that she will be there with him every step of the way. No matter what he does or where he goes, she will always love him and be there to offer encouragement. Through her declarations of caring and understanding, Mama Bear let’s Little Bear know that it is alright for him to feel, sad, to feel alone, or to even feel scared. She is his sense of security from which he can draw strength and courage to venture and take chances. She encourages him to create, to try new things, to sing and dance like no one’s watching~ because no matter what, Mama Bear will always be there with open arms and a heart full of love.

This sweet, rhyming read aloud is a precious love poem. The rhyme and rhythm of the words make this book the perfect  read aloud for any parent to read to their one little ones~ to let them know that they are loved and they can always feel safe when you are around. The soft pastels of the water colors create a mood of cozy comfort~ for nothing is so scary, and anything is possible when someone you love is around. Plus, with the simple text, rhyming scheme, and illustrated picture clues, beginning readers will find that they can soon read along. *Bonus~ there is a sight word list at the end of the book to help support beginning and early readers.* And, even little ones who can’t read yet will catch onto the rhyme scheme and soon be sharing words of love themselves. 

A bit more about the Author: Carline Dumerlin-Folkes

Carline is an author, motivational coach and educator. She has a Bachelor and Master degree of Arts and has over ten years of experience empowering students, she is dedicated to helping young women blossom into their best selves. She does this through her foundation: Becoming Exceptional Ladies and Learning Everyday (BELLE). This became a passion of Carline Dumerlin-Folkes after working with diverse groups of students in New York City. While Carline knew that her students had access to resources to support them academically, she believed that her students also needed guidance in areas that would allow them to flourish both inside and outside of the classroom. To learn more, check out her website: www.belleconsultants.com, and follow her on Instagram: @booksbycarli

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

*****

*~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 one of my favorite clever  interactive read alouds  here. *

*~Until Next Time, Happy Reading~*