Book Giveaway: LOVE CAN COME IN MANY WAYS by Terry Pierce

Terry Pierce has written a new board book, LOVE CAN COME IN MANY WAYS, illustrated by Suzy Ultman and published by Chronicle Books. The book comes out on October 20th. Terry has agreed to share a copy with one lucky winner.

All you have to do to get in the running is 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 other things you do to share the good news, so I can put the right amount of tickets in my basket for you. Sharing on Facebook, Twitter or reblogging really helps spread the word for a new book. So, thanks for helping Terry and Suzy.

If you have signed up to follow my blog and it is delivered to you everyday, please let me know when you leave a comment and I will give you an extra ticket. Thanks!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Love Can Come in Many Ways celebrates the many diverse ways animals, and humans, show their love.

Lift a swan’s felt wing to discover a baby cuddled underneath, then lift a felt speech bubble to discover the words “You are loved!”

Beneath each of the felt flaps is a wealth of snuggles, hugs, and loving engagement.

• A heartwarming novelty book with adorable lift-the-flap interactive spreads
• Features 10 felt flaps total in nine different, eye-catching colors
• Ranges from the songs that mama frog sings to a warm hug from a papa elephant’s trunk

A smile, a kiss, a word of praise, love can come in many ways.

Delight in the ways creatures all over the world—and in all shapes and sizes—reaffirm their family bonds in this sweet, interactive book.

• Perfect as a Valentine’s Day gift for your little one
• Resonates year-round as a go-to new baby gift for baby showers, as well as for gender reveal parties, birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and more
• Perfect for children ages 2 to 4 years old,
• Add it to the shelf with books like If Animals Kissed Good Night by Ann Whitford Paul, I’ll Never Let You Go by Smriti Prasadam-Halls, and Valentine’s Chunky Lift-a-Flap Board Book by Holly Berry-Byrd.

“From one tiny gesture, there arose such a clatter, that the Toledo Christmas Weed garnered national chatter . . . “
–Toledo Mayor, Wade Kapszukiewicz 2018

BOOK JOURNEY:

The journey for Love Can Come in Many Ways began in an unlikely place. Politics. Well, not right in the mix of politics, but rather the effect of politics. After the 2016 election, I was taken back at how civil discourse had degraded in our country. The idea of “respectfully disagreeing” seemed to have gone to the wayside. And friends shared stories of people treating them so disrespectfully, sometimes only because of how they looked. I found these things truly saddening.

So, in early 2017, I decided to write a new picture book with a focus on love—maybe more for my own emotional health and mental well-being! I just wanted to dive into a project that would make me laugh, smile, and feel good about the world. Love is a broad topic, so I first pondered what “kid-friendly” path I could use to bring more love into the lives of young children. What do kids love that I could use to show love? Animals!

I started by Googling “animals showing affection” and oh my gosh, talk about going down a rabbit hole—but this one was a delightful, giggling journey of smiles. One of the first photos I found inspired the opening lines of the book. “Nose to nose, gaze to gaze, Love can come in many ways.”

I didn’t start out necessarily wanting to write in rhyme, but I knew this had to be my opening line. Like many of my books, the words just came to me in verse. So, this one photo gave me a strong opening line and a rhythm/meter pattern. I found more photos and started making lists of animal-related words I could use (tails, mouths, backs, paws, etc.). Next, I worked on a list of affection-related words that kids would enjoy—cuddles, snuggles, hugs, kisses, etc.

It took me about two months to get to a polished draft, with the feedback of my amazing writing group. As with any rhyming text, I was constantly scanning the meter, and playing with the text, tinkering words here and there. It’s easy to mistakenly think the meter stays consistent after edits, so I was always scanning and rescanning.

I sent it to my agent at the time and crossed my fingers she would love it as much as I did. It sat with her for almost two months before she sent it out on submission. What was unexpected was that five days later, Chronicle expressed interest. Not a commitment, but asking for time to show the Chronicle team and one of their illustrators. This gave me great hope that it would sell! About a month later, my editor Ariel Richardson let us the know the illustrator loved the manuscript and an offer would be forthcoming. In July 2017, we got the official offer. And the big surprise was that they wanted to publish it as a novelty book with felt flaps. I’d always been interested in novelty books, so this was thrilling for me.

Over the next couple of years, we collaborated over the book, pouring over illustrator Suzy Ultman’s sketches, tinkering with the text, choosing the felt fabric for the flaps, going over every tiny delightful detail. The collaboration journey (28 months) was quite extensive but pure joy for me.

Love Can Come in Many Ways will be out on October 20. And my dream of helping spread a little more love into the lives of young children will be realized. And boy, can’t we all use a little more love right now?

Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Weed-That-Woke-Christmas-Mostly/dp/0981493815

TERRY’S BIO:

TERRY PIERCE is the author of twenty-five children’s books, including Soccer Time, Mama Loves You So, My Busy Green Garden, and Tae Kwon Do! (2007 Bank Street College Best Children’s Books).

Terry holds a B.A. degree in Early Childhood Development and an International A.M.I. Montessori teaching diploma.  She was a Montessori teacher for twenty-two years before deciding to follow her dream of writing for children. Terry holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, including the Picture Book Concentration certification. She now writes full-time and teaches Picture Book Writing for the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program.

Though she lived in various parts of the U.S. as a child, she now lives in California, dividing her time between the high desert and the high Sierra. Nature inspires her writing, wherever she finds herself. She lives with her husband and is a servant to two lovable cats.

She’s looking forward to the release off her next board book, Eat Up, Bear! (Yosemite Conservancy 2021) in April 2021. Please visit her at http://www.terrypiercebooks.com.

SUZY ULTMAN’S BIO:

SUZY ULTMAN has been creating toys and books for family and friends since childhood. A born storyteller, Suzy is an illustrator, product designer, toy creator, and bookmaker of sophisticated and simple objects that inspire and delight young and old alike.

Suzy grew up in Pennsylvania but her life and work have taken her around the world both as a visitor and a resident. From living in Los Angeles to Portland, across the sea to Amsterdam and back to Boston, Suzy’s exploration and immersion into these places influences her work even today. Whether gracing your bookshelf or decorating a nursery, Suzy’s signature products tell a story of connection, community and finding your place within our global family.

When she isn’t in her studio folding paper, designing textiles, or creating toys, she can be found strolling through antique shops, finding treasures at flea markets, and communing with nature. She’s nested with her husband and three sons in their cozy home in Ohio.

Thank you Terry for sharing your book and journey with us. It looks like such a cute fun book. Suzy did a really good job creating the art with this book. Good luck!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy