Book Giveaway: WHEN GRANDMA GIVES YOU A LEMON TREE

Author Jamie L. B. Deenihan has a new picture book titled, WHEN GRANDMA GIVES YOU A LEMON TREE. Lorraine Rocha, who was featured on Illustrator Saturday illustrated the book. Jamie has agreed to share a book with one lucky winner. All you have to do to get in the running is to leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Just let me know the other things you do to share the good news, so I can put in the right amount of tickets in my basket for you.

Sharing on Facebook, Twitter, reblogging really helps spread the word for a new book. Thanks for helping Jamie!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

When Grandma gives you a lemon tree, definitely don’t make a face! Care for the tree, and you might be surprised at how new things, and new ideas, bloom. 

“Charms from cover to cover.” —Kirkus (Starred review)

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” In this imaginative take on that popular saying, a child is surprised (and disappointed) to receive a lemon tree from Grandma for her birthday. After all, she DID ask for a new gadget! But when she follows the narrator’s careful—and funny—instructions, she discovers that the tree might be exactly what she wanted after all. This clever story, complete with a recipe for lemonade, celebrates the pleasures of patience, hard work, nature, community . . . and putting down the electronic devices just for a while.

Here’s Jamie L.B. Deenihan’s journey with WHEN GRANDMA GIVES YOU A LEMON TREE:

BOOK’S JOURNEY:

My debut picture book, WHEN GRANDMA GIVES YOUR A LEMON TREE, illustrated by Lorraine Rocha, is about a girl who asks for electronic gifts for her birthday, but instead, receives a lemon tree from her Grandma. It’s a story that celebrates the pleasures of patience, hard work, community, and putting the electronic devices down just for a while.

 

This story was inspired by childhood memories of trying to grow citrus fruit trees at my grandparents’ house from the seeds we found in our fruit, growing up on a farm, and of course, the popular saying, ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.’ In 2015, I was a first-grade teacher, picture book-lover, and parent of a three and four-year-old at the time. One day, I caught myself thinking about how funny it would be to give a kid a lemon tree for their birthday and see how they’d react. I scribbled down a few notes and that’s how the very first draft was born.

 

Ironically, I wrote the first draft one month before my husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor which is when the story took on a whole new meaning and became a labor of love and source of hope for me and my family. Although my husband has health challenges and ongoing treatments to face, he carries on with strength and a hopeful outlook thanks to his incredible team of doctors and our family and friends who have been there for us every step of the way. So, although this story was written to be light-hearted and funny, I also hope that readers will be inspired to turn whatever lemons they’re facing, into lemonade.

I think kids love this book because of the lemons to lemonade message and of course,  Lorraine Rocha’s incredible illustrations that brought this story to life! Lorraine and I are thrilled to share our next book in this series, When Grandpa Gives You a Toolbox, next spring!

 JAMIE’S BIO:

Jamie L. B. Deenihan is a former elementary school teacher and certified reading specialist turned picture book author. When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree, illustrated by Lorraine Rocha, is her debut picture book. Her next picture book, The Tooth Fairy VS. Santa, illustrated by Erin Hunting, is now available for pre-order!

Jamie was a first grade teacher and certified reading specialist in Western Massachusetts for ten years. After her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2015, she took time away from her classroom to be home with her family, teach part-time, and pursue a writing career.

Jamie lives in Connecticut, near the family farm she grew up on, with her husband, two children, and a growing collection of lemon trees. She’s a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and Julie Hedlund’s 12X12 Picture Book Challenge. Jamie is represented by Linda Camacho at Gallt & Zacker Agency.  

Jamie, thank you for sharing your book and journey with us. It look like a great book and it’s so nice to see Lorraine’s illustrations. And what a great idea for the grandmother out there – a book and a lemon tree for their grandaughter’s birthday. Maybe this book will make that a traditional birthday gift. Best of luck with the book.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy