MaiStoryBook is excited to revive the *Independent and Self-Published Features Series* to highlight 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! You can see my Book Review Policy Here. I’m excited for the wonders we will find!

Now without further ado~

We’re kicking off this *revival post* by featuring 2 previously featured authors who are already on their second book! Thrilled to be able to have supported their first works, and now we’re back to support their future endeavors!

Featuring this week’s delightfully adventurous read alouds:

Mimi and Moto Ride the Alphabet by Nancy Gerloff and Mark Augustyn

Illustrated by Aveliya Savina and Marat Kurokhtin

Published by  Little Rider Enterprises: Publishing books to inspire the next generation of motorcycle riders and promote riding safety

As a teacher, there is always a special place in *mai* heart for alphabet books. As I currently teach 3rd grade, I don’t read them to my kiddos as often, but that doesn’t mean never! Now that the littles are a bit older, they can even be encouraged to conduct a book study on different styles of ABC books, and then create and write their own! Because there are so many ways to write this one niche-genre of books, it leads to fantastic compare-and-contrast analysis of writing styler. Some ABC books are the generic “share a word that starts with this letter” type books~ great for exploring phonics with younger children, while other ABC books interweave more complexity. Plus, ABC books can focus on a range of topics, thus providing opportunities for student interests to be peaked. If you are looking for an ABC book perfect for both younger and older children, filled with alliteration and adventure-seeking thrills, then *Mimi and Moto Ride the Alphabet* is the read aloud for you!

Mimi and Moto, the motorcycle monkey duo, are back again for another biking escapade. This time, they are zipping through an alphabet adventure . Each letter of the alphabet is paired with a mini motor feat. Join Mimi and Moto as they cruise with their cousins wearing cool goggles, and hold onto your handlebars as they horsepower their way up hills with headlights flashing. Through this read aloud, children are exposed to a wide array of motorcycle and rider vocabulary accompanied with vibrant illustrations allowing littles to make visual and text connections to new words. Plus, each mini motor feat consists of alliterations, with words starting with the corresponding letter featured on the page emphasized in bold print. This style of print points out the commonality between the words, leading older readers to recognize the alliterative pattern and supporting younger readers in letter and recognition and phonics. Overall, it’s an epic ABC book read aloud, sure to get your own littles ready to rev their engines!

A bit more about the Authors: Nancy Gerloff and Mark Augustyn

Nancy Gerloff and Mark Augustyn are motorcycle fanatics who wanted to share their love for riding with their infant daughter. Their little girl was already flipping though American Motorcyclist magazines, pointing out motorcycles with enthusiasm. However, upon searching for an age-appropriate, motorcycle-themed children’s book, none could be found! Their solution: create their very own motorcycle monkey franchise to build a fun and inspiring children’s motorcycle world! Thus they created Mimi and Momo, two adventurous, motorcycle monkeys to help riders share their passion for motorcycles with their children Thus they created Mimi and Momo, two adventurous, motorcycle monkeys to help riders share their passion for motorcycles with their children in an innovative, creative, and educational way! To learn more, check out their site: mimiandmoto.com , and follow them on Instagram @mimiandmoto.

Check out their first book “Mimi and Moto” featured on MaiStoryBook.

Check here to add their books to your own home library!

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Squish, Squeeze, and Smash by Vincent Chen, Illustrated by Wallok

Self-published by Vincent Chen

Littles learn learn through sensations~ feeling, touching, squeezing, squishing, licking, smashing, poking, etc. The world around them is their playground to be explored, each crack and crevice to be examined, every person and animal to be surveyed. For littles, this exploration is key, and should be encouraged. Imagination and play is how they build their constructs of the world. Only one thing they need to be aware of, however, is boundaries- when exploring through one’s senses is appropriate, or when they may be going too far and need to pull back just a bit. In essence, children can be like little explosive balls of energy, emotions, and sensations. One moment they are playing peacefully, the next they are engaged in a full-on jumbled tumbling pile of playful punches, tickles and limbs. For them, it’s all for fun, as long as they know when too much is too rough and can stop for a break of calm. This week’s featured read, “Squish, Squeeze, and Smash,” presents a story that all littles can relate to~ the excitement and thrill of letting loose their “inner-beasties” and letting their imaginations run wild, all while finding the balance with love and a gentle touch.

Meet Fish, Ellie, and Nash~ three friends with monstrous-sized imaginations. Fish loves to squish, Ellie loves to squeeze, and Nash loves to smash. It’s through these physical actions that these besties interact with the world. Through playful rhyme, and short, silly scenes, this narrative takes you through a school day of charming adventure through the eyes, hearts, and imaginations of three mischief-makers. Pretending to be a fierce shark, a mighty elephant, and a fire-breathing dragon, Fish, Ellie, and Nash navigate how they can enjoy their play, while also being respectful of each other, and their surroundings. Bright, colorful, full spread illustrations create a vivid world of wonder, sure to enchant any young reader, pulling them into the pages of the characters’ imaginations. The full page spreads show a juxtaposition of the friends playing on one side, and how they imagine their playtime scenarios unfolding in their heads on the other side, transforming themselves into bright blue sharks, pink elephants, and fierce green dragons. If you have a little ball of energy of your own, check out this read aloud to encourage them to explore their imaginations and world around them in a safe and positive way. *Plus, you can have the book personalized with your very own picture on the inner page~ perfect for children to have a little book-treasure of their own!*

A bit more about the Author: Vincent Chen

Vincent Chen is a father to two young children and former kindergarten teacher. The inspiration for this book was his kids. He wanted to write a book about kids being kids~ a book that captured their essence of imagination and play. Vincent enjoys write positive children stories with a twist. Besides writing books for children to enjoy, he spends his free time exploring the world around him with his family, and making up stories for his kids. To learn more, check out his site: www.vinnytales.com, and follow him on Instagram: @vinny_tales.

A bit more about the Illustrator: Wallok

Wallok (Germán Varona) is an independent illustrator and concept artist with over 10 years of professional experience. He has illustrated books and animated videos. He does mainly digital work, but also works with traditional drawings, watercolors, markers, and others. His passions are surrealism, science fiction, robots, fantasy, and monsters big and small. He loves collaborating with writers to make their visions come to life through illustrations. Because he approaches every project, story, and page as special, he adapts his style to the author’s imagination and go the extra mile by adding his own twist. Learn more about his work here.

Check out Vincent Chen’s first Book “99 Bitcoins and an Elephant” on MaiStoryBook.

Check here to add “Squish, Squeeze, and Smash” to 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! Read more about my Book Review Policy here. I’m always looking for new treasures to read, support, and share with all of you!~*

*Plus, checkout the*coolest* new interactive  read aloud of one of the year  here. *

*~Until Next Time, Happy Reading~*