Book Giveaway: LITTLE EWE: The Story of One Lost Sheep by Laura Sassi

Laura Sassi has written a new picture book, LITTLE EWE: The Story of One Lost Sheep illustrated by Tommy Doyle and published by Beaming Books. It hits the bookstores on February 23rd, but it is available for pre-order on Amazon, now. Laura has agreed to share a copy with one lucky winner living in the United States.

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 Rebecca and Dana.

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:

Little Ewe would rather jump on logs and investigate spider webs than follow the shepherd when he calls. But what happens when she gets lost? How will she find her way home? Told in whimsical rhyme, this humorous counting book for our littlest ones is a delightful reminder that, like a loving parent, our Shepherd will find us and care for us, even when we wander from the path.

In Little Ewe: The Story of One Lost Sheep, award-winning author Laura Sassi and illustrator Tommy Doyle tell an endearing tale of a distracted sheep and her persistent shepherd, inspired by the Parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15.

BOOK JOURNEY:

I love to rhyme and was keen to write a counting book. So one morning I decided to do just that.  Inspired by memories of watching sheep graze, a favorite parable, and recalling my own little lambs who loved exploring the great outdoors when they were little,  LITTLE EWE: The Story of One Lost Sheep was born.

The story is a re-imagining of one of my favorite passages from the New Testament — Jesus’ parable about a lost lamb — but from the point of view, not of the shepherd, but of the lamb.  I named her Little Ewe (because, at heart, she is a lot like me and you!). 

Once I had the point of view established, I brainstormed the many sights and sounds a sheep might encounter on a day wandering far from the flock.  Since I wanted to honor the original setting of the parable – the hills where Jesus walked – I double-checked to make sure the wonders my protagonist discovered along the way would have indeed been native to that time and place. My list included sparrows, figs, frogs, spiders and more!

Because I did so much pondering ahead of time — jotting down possible rhyme schemes, plot twists etc., —by the time I sat down to write, this story came fairly easily. The earliest versions were much longer, including both a numeric climb and a countdown. But, though I loved the countdown, it didn’t work for this piece because it meant that the climactic moment – when Little Ewe and Shepherd are reunited – came too early, making the denouement too long. So, in the end, the story climbs to twelve and then, in a soothing resolution, returns all at once, with great love, to the closing which reads:

One Little Ewe
now safe and snug,
cradled in kind
Shepherd’s hug.

Home again,
all gather round.
The shepherd’s lamb,
once lost . . . is found!

After many, many revisions and several rounds of feedback, my agent submitted it to a couple of faith-based publishing houses, but when no one nibbled, and because her contact list was mostly main stream, we agreed to set it aside. It wasn’t until four summers later, that on my own one sunny June morning, after much research into faith-based publishers, I decided to submit it to Beaming Books, whose books I had seen and loved. I had recently parted ways with my agent and so I was also keen to take advantage of their short “open to unagented submissions” window. To my delight, two months later, I had an offer from editor Naomi Krueger and the rest, as they say, is history! I’m so pleased with how the book turned out and have overflowing gratitude for the amazing team at Beaming Books and, of course, for the fabulous Tommy Doyle.

LAURA’S BIO:

Laura Sassi has a passion for telling stories in prose and rhyme. She is the author of six books including GOODNIGHT, ARK (Zonderkidz, 2014), GOODNIGHT, MANGER (Zonderkidz, 2015), DIVA DELORES AND THE OPERA HOUSE MOUSE (Sterling, 2018), LOVE IS KIND (Zonderkidz, 2018),  LITTLE EWE (Beaming Books, 2021) and BUNNY FINDS EASTER (Zonderkidz) which will release in Spring 2022.

A graduate of Princeton University and UCLA, Sassi had a successful teaching career before becoming a children’s author. She’s been a homeschool mom, children’s ministry director, historic museum interpreter, and more. She writes daily from her home in New Jersey and finds special joy in sharing her love of reading and writing with the next generation at school visits and other book events.

Visit her on the web at:
https://www.facebook.com/LauraSassiTales
http://laurasassitales.wordpress.com/

twitter.com/laurasassitales
https://www.instagram.com/laurasassitales/

TOMMY DOYLE’S BIO:

Tommy is a Senior Illustrator and graphic designer based in Melbourne, Australia. Originally from Montreal, Qc Canada, I relocated down under back in 2007. He has worked in the industry for over 20 years. Illustration is a big passion of his and he finds that, it is an effective and creative way to communicate a message or an emotion. His work is bold and rich in simplicity. He loves playing with shapes and textures, mixing digital and traditional mediums.

​He is also the founder of What The Wolf, an eco-conscious kids’ brand based in Melbourne. They design and produce a select range of original eco-friendly kids’ products.

www.whatthewolf.com

Represented by The Bright Agency.

​To talk about a project, please contact me at

hello@tommydoyle.net or my agent at mail@thebrightagency.com

Laura, thank you for sharing your journey and book with us. Children should love this caring counting story. Tommy did a great job bringing you book to life. Good luck with the book!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy