Book Giveaway: A FRIEND LIKE YOU by Frank Murphy

Frank Murphy has written a new picture book, A FRIEND LIKE YOU illustrated by Kayla Harren and published by Sleeping Bear Press  It is available in bookstores now. SBP 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 Frank and Kayla.

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:

There’s nothing in the world like a wonderful friend. Friends are there to laugh with you and ready with a hug when you need one. There are forever friends and brand new friends. Friends for adventures and friends for cozy days indoors. Friends who are just like you and friends who are nothing like you at all. In this book, celebrate ALL the marvelous ways to be a friend!

BOOK JOURNEY:

Part of the story of the genesis of A Friend Like You is rooted in the two previous titles, A Boy Like You and A Girl Like You; so many folks asked me if I was considering writing a title for kids that did not have a gender attached to the title. My answer to this was always that, early on, I had been considering doing a picture book about friendship. So, with A Friend Like You I believe it’s a perfect picture book for all kids and families to choose. Although, I do believe that the messages in Girl and Boy are also universal and can reach all audiences; one thing is for sure – Kayla Harren does an incredible job ensuring that so many kids can see themselves represented in her art.

The next step was to find a friend who brought a different dimension of diversity and experience for this picture book. (It has been our goal for every new title in the “like You” series, after Boy, to have me pair with an author who brings a different perspective and expertise than my experiences and background.) I became friends with Charnaie Gordon in the spring of 2019. We connected because she was trumpeting about how much she loved A Boy Like You on her Instagram account HereWeeRead. Charnaie is a digital creator who has built a large following and created an important space helping people find diverse books and educational products. Then we met in New York City, in person, at a book convention. Instantly, our friendship ignited! I love every single thing about Charnaie – from her kindness to her grace to her humility. Plus, she is just cool – she’s genuine. Charnaie brings so much to the table, especially with picture books; she is one of the leading experts in this “kidlit” world. Our collaboration on A Friend Like You was seamless. Every aspect of tugging and pulling at each other’s ideas and writing ended up being so easy.

We both believe that A Friend Like You is meeting the world at an opportune time. So many kids (and adults) are finding some struggles with assimilating back into the “in-person” world. Being an elementary school teacher, I have witnessed and continue to see too many kids struggling with navigating their way through insecurities and apprehensions about life after this pandemic stole almost two years of “real world” living. Charnaie, the team at Sleeping Bear Press, and I hope A Friend Like You becomes a valuable resource for teachers, counselors, librarians, parents, and kids in generating conversations about friendships. If it inspires just one kid to be a better friend, to be a better listener or maybe more accepting…well, then this book would be priceless to all of us.

I do want to add that Kayla created two illustrations in this book that are my all-time favorites from any picture book. The shadows she created in the illustration of the two main characters walking their dogs are powerful. To me, they symbolize that these two characters will be friends into adulthood – lifetime friends. And the next spread of the playground – WOW! This is my favorite! The text speaks to being an ally. Kayla captured and illuminated exactly what Charnaie and I were trying to convey. Our divided world needs this message – maybe now, more than ever before. We hope the text and art on this spread sparks conversations that lead to helping families and schools heal and learn and, ultimately, grow. For me, these are the most important two pages in any picture book I’ll ever create.

FRANKS BIO:

FRANK MURPHY is a teacher who writes and a writer who teaches. He has taught a wide variety of grades at the elementary for more than 26 years. A history buff, former basketball coach & Sixers fan, and popular speaker, Frank is the author of many fun historical fiction/biography books for young readers, including several popular Step into Reading History Readers – including the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio 2006 Best Book Award Winner Ben Franklin & the Magic Squares. Most of his children’s books are about iconic people from the past like Teddy Roosevelt, George Washington, Frederick Douglass, and Clara Barton.

His newest picture book is A Boy Like You (July 2019) illustrated by Kayla Harren and published by Sleeping Bear Press. A Boy Like You is a loving tribute to boys, celebrating all the wonderful ways to be a boy and encouraging readers to be the truest version of themselves–while embracing empathy and kindness. As a teacher and father, Frank is committed to helping expand the definition of what it means to be a boy and a man, this is an important and timely message for anyone who cares about today’s male youth.

Frank was born in California, but moved to Philadelphia, PA when he was 8 years old. He’s been in the Philly area ever since. He currently teaches 6th grade.

He has written more than 18 children’s books and A Boy Like You is his favorite. He currently lives in Bucks County, PA. Visit his website at https://www.frankmurphybooks.com/.

KAYLA’S BIO:

Kayla Harren graduated from the School of Visual Arts in NYC with a BFA in Illustration. She illustrated the picture books Juma the Giraffe and Our Elephant Neighbors for Wild Nature Institute and PAMS Foundation.  Mary Had a Little Lizard, published by Sky Pony Press, was her debut picture book as an author/illustrator. Her artwork has been featured in Communication Arts, 3×3 Magazine, and the Society of Illustrators Illustration Annuals.  She won the June 2017 Highlights for Children Pewter Plate Award for her illustration.

Kayla’s books include Hannah’s Tall Order: An A to Z Sandwich and Mary Had a Little Lizard. She lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. Learn more about her at www.kaylaharren.com. Kayla was recently featured on Illustrator Saturday.

Frank, thank you for sharing your book and journey with us. I love this series of picture books. They are all so uplifting and they make great gifts. Kayla’s illustrations are wonderful and help make the books so much fun. I love every illustration, but I agree with you about the two illustrations you mentioned (the first one after the cover and the one with them walking and the shadows that is right before your bio). I think they are my favorite, too. Like the others; this book is so special. I hope you think of more things to write about, so you can keep this series going. Good luck with the book!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy