Book Giveaway: RIDE, ROLL, RUN: TIME FOR FUN! by Valerie Bolling

Valerie Bolling has written a new picture book, RIDE, ROLL, RUN: TIME FOR FUN!, illustrated by Sabrina Khadija and published by Abrams Appleseed. They have agreed to send a copy to the one lucky winner in the US.

Just leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Let me know other things you did 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 Valerie and Sabrena

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. If you want to make sure you don’t miss seeing that you won, please click “Notify Me of Follow-Up Comments by Email” box. I will leave a comment in reply if you win the book. Thanks!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

A joyful, rhyming picture book that is an ode to community and outdoor play

Pedal, pump.
Speed bump!
Ride, roll, run.
Friends and fun!

This energetic picture book celebrates community and friendship, following children as they play their way through their vibrant neighborhood. Author and educator Valerie Bolling’s rhyming text makes for an exciting read-aloud and is paired with stunning illustrations by Sabrena Khadija.

BOOK JOURNEY:

The first draft of RIDE, ROLL, RUN: TIME FOR FUN! (illustrated by Sabrena Khadija) was written in 2018, and it was about children playing on a playground. My good friend, Rebecca, suggested that I make it a book about the activities that kids engage in around the city, instead of setting it on a playground. I made those changes and titled the book CITY FUN. During the publication process, its title was changed to the current one.

Meredith Mundy at Abrams Appleseed acquired RIDE, ROLL, RUN (CITY FUN, at the time) in June 2020. Meredith prefers books longer than 100 words, rather than the 50 words in my original manuscript, so I changed my couplets to quatrains and increased my word count to 120-something.

I was fortunate that Abrams offered me a two-book deal at acquisition. The sequel to RIDE, ROLL, RUN is BING, BOP, BAM: TIME TO JAM! and will be released next fall. It takes place in the same neighborhood with the same characters plus others, enjoying a musical block party.

The inspiration for RIDE, ROLL, RUN is much the same as for my other short, rhyming texts. I write about what I see children doing, what I know children enjoy. Many of the games and activities highlighted in the book are ones that I enjoyed as a child as well.

Like my other books, RIDE, ROLL, RUN weaves throughout it the threads of community, diversity, and joy. It also provides a reminder of the games and activities that kids – and adults – can do outdoors. You don’t have to go to a playground. You don’t need a large yard. You can just step outside and have fun wherever you are. Kirkus Reviews described this book as “pure joy,” and that’s what I hope children and adults will experience as the read the book.

VALERIE’S BIO:

Valerie Bolling is a picture book author. Her first book was Let’s Dance! and published by Boyds Mills & Kane. She has been an educator for almost 30 years and a writer since age 4. She is a graduate of Tufts University and Columbia University, Teachers College and currently works as an Instructional Coach.

Her nieces inspired her to write picture books, and she wants children of all backgrounds to see themselves in her stories and feel valued and heard. Let’s Dance! is her debut book, and it is a winner of SCBWI’s Crystal Kite award. Valerie has two picture books releasing in 2022 and two more picture books and an early reader series slated for 2023.

In addition to writing picture books, I have written a Monthly Memo for teachers that I published on Twitter, and I have been published in The National Writing Project’s Quarterly and NESCBWI News. A poem I wrote was published in Cricket Media’s Babybug Magazine.

Valerie Bolling is represented by agent James McGowan of BookEnds Literary Agency. She lives with her husband in Connecticut and enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, going to the theater … and dancing.

SABRENDA’S BIO:

My name is Sabrena Khadija. My friends call me Sab. Autocorrect calls me San.

I am a Sierra Leonean-American, DC-based Illustrator, Bibliophile, and Anime Enthusiast.

I am one of the growing number of human beings who seek inclusive and innovative spaces to explore art and creativity in meaningful and impactful ways. For that reason, I truly feel I have found a home in the world of illustration and design.

CLIENT’S INCLUDE:

American Greetings – Abrams Books – Adobe – Apple – Bastide – Bon Appétit –
Coach – Coca-Cola – Condé Nast – Dig Inn – Disney – Facebook -Flow Magazine
Google – Harper Collins – I-Weigh – Medium -New York Times – Penguin Random House – Parks Project – Rebel Girls – Slack -Snapchat – Society6 – Target -Twitch
The Washington Post – Working Not Working – YouTube

Represented by Jacky Winter.

Valerie, Thank you for sharing your book and journey with us. This look like such a fun book. I love seeing happy children playing together and having fun. Children love books in rhyme, so I know they will feel like they are playing with the kids in your book as they turn the pages. Sabrena did a wonderful job with her vivid illustration. They really add to the fun. Good luck with the book.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy