Danny the Dragon » Childrens’ Literature

My Book Review Featured on Nikki’s Hurricane Adventure Website

Miranda — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:30 +0000

As you can imagine, as a children’s author, I do a lot of reading and love to pass on to Danny the Dragon fans my children’s literature recommendations.

You’ve probably heard me talking about the illustrated kids book by Kevin and Laura Sanchez, Nikki’s Hurricane Adventure, and the amazing true story behind it. If not, here’s a refresher: Nikki the cat was separated from her family in 2008 during an evacuation for Hurricane Gustav 85 miles from home, and she found her way back 4 months later! Her owners Kevin and Laura later wrote down their imagined adventures of Nikki the Cat, and Nikki’s Hurricane Adventure was born! What’s more, half of the profits of the book are being donated to cancer research.

I published a review of this delightful book and was pleased to find that Kevin and Laura Sanchez have featured it on their website, NikkisHurricaneAdventure.com. It’s so nice that my words of praise mean so much that they’ve been placed directly on their home page. Check it out!

You can read more about the book and Nikki’s story here or at NikkisHurricaneAdventure.com. Little ones will love to hear about it, trust me!

Tina Turbin

www.DannytheDragon.com

This Child Loves Danny the Dragon!

Miranda — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:00:06 +0000

This lovely and heartwarming letter came in to me today from a mother in England who purchased a book via this Danny the Dragon website. As an author this is one of those special moments in our lives that we know we are doing what we love and it is touching others. I think any other children’s author will agree with me on this.

Hi Tina

We have one VERY EXCITED little boy!!

He absolutely loved waking up to a package on Saturday morning. Jumped out of bed and said “Can I go to School today?” and I said “No. But there is a surprise for you downstairs for being so good this week!”

Thanks again for the great service via the site and the ordering arrangement.

As for some of the extra bits and bobs sent in the package ( door hangers, bookmarkers, tattoos, pencils) some of them Ro intends to share with his friends. They will all be enjoying Danny the Dragon here in England.

Thanks so much!

MLV,

Chantelle

Danny the Dragon Author Featured At The Burbank Book Festival

Tina Turbin — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 06:00:15 +0000

We had such a great time at the Burbank Book Festival! It was great to connect with the authors and readers in Burbank and we were received. As an author I really enjoy book festivals and getting all the terrific feedback on Danny the Dragon. And to be featured amongst such great authors was really an honor. Can’t wait for next year!

Tina Turbin

www.DannytheDragon.com

k.m.

Cilie Yack is Under Attack! By Caryn Talty

Tina Turbin — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 06:00:30 +0000

If you have celiac disease like me, you’re probably aware of the abundance of resource guides available on the market. Many of these have proved to be invaluable to the celiac community, but there remains a segment of the celiac population who haven’t been able to benefit as we have from such books—children. Thanks to Caryn Talty, a former schoolteacher living in Chicago, celiac kids now have not only an informative resource, but a creative and entertaining one at that—Cilie Yack is Under Attack! This fictional book follows the adventures of the Irish boy Cilie Yack, who experiences an array of misadventures before being diagnosed with celiac disease and becoming a young, gluten-free master chef.

This chapter book, written for ages 5 to 11, draws its strength from its charming main character, Cilie Yack, who is funny as well as honest and open about even the most awkward details of celiac disease (one of the chapters is named “Poop Talk”). By hearing his own story as a celiac kid, including his symptoms, what testing is like, what happens when he breaks the gluten-free diet, and the adjustments his family makes, kids will not only absorb vital information about living with celiac disease, but they’ll never forget it! Uniquely set in County Clare, Ireland, where Cilie lives on a dairy farm, the book is sure to fascinate kids interested in learning about other cultures. Cilie takes care to explain the Irish and Gaelic terms and customs so that children won’t be confused.

Caryn Talty wrote this book from her heart after her oldest child was diagnosed with celiac disease and it was found by food allergy testing that he needed to eliminate 15 foods from his diet. Already feeling overwhelmed and isolated, she grew even more distressed after failing to find a support group for her son that met his needs. Then one momentous night, the character of Cilie Yack was born in Talty’s imagination.

After reading Cilie Yack, you can’t help but want to stay connected to this enchanting character. Lucky for us, Cilie announces his online cooking club, Cilie Yack’s Sous Club (http://www.cilie-yack.org), designed for kids ages 5 to 11 with food allergies or celiac disease, but kids without special dietary needs are welcome to join as well. The club allows members to organize their own local social cooking club with an emphasis on gluten-free cooking with recipes free of the most prevalent eight allergens as well as corn.

Cilie Yack will be sure to inspire your celiac child to become a gluten-free chef himself. Thankfully Talty, the President of Cilie Yack’s Sous Club for Kids, has given kids with food allergies the opportunity to follow in this delightful character’s footsteps.

http://www.cilie-yack.org

Tina Turbin

www.dannythedragon.com

k.m.

Danny the Dragon Author Showcased in Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators!

Tina Turbin — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 06:00:22 +0000

Every couple of months this amazing group showcases certain children’s book writers and illustrators and this issue I was honored to be selected. See what the wrote about Danny and I in their publication

Danny and I are very thankful to be part of such an amazing group!

Tina Turbin

www.DannytheDragon.com

k.m.

Nikki’s Hurricane Adventure by Kevin and Laura Sanchez

Tina Turbin — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 06:00:10 +0000

Nikki’s Hurricane Adventure is a children’s book enlightening the senses through a cat’s journey back home to his family. The book sales are devoted to helping find a cure for cancer.

Nikki is a cat who was separated from her family in 2008 during an evacuation for Hurricane Gustav.

Her adventures that followed were all in the hope of finding her family and getting back home.

This delightful tale leaves one with a smile all throughout, resulting in a happy ending. You will want to read it again and again.

The story and purpose behind this book has a meaning all in itself. Rather than summarizing it myself, I’ve asked one of the authors, Laura Sanchez, to share her story:

When Nikki came home, she was skin and bones, her beautiful coat was matted and dirty, and she had no voice. Kevin and I would sit on the porch, brushing and petting her while she regained her strength, and telling her how happy we were that she was home. We tried to imagine what she had been through those four long months and so many miles. We knew she had made it through a hurricane and snowstorm, had crossed roads and rivers, and avoided cars, trucks, dogs, and who knows what other Louisiana wildlife she had encountered. In the spring we would sit on the porch drinking coffee in the morning and watch her playing in the yard, chasing birds and squirrels, back to her playful and loving self (still no voice, and definitely no longer the pampered house cat).

In July Kevin had a “mishap” while we were riding our mini-bikes and had to go to the doctor. During an ultrasound they noticed a shadow on one of his kidneys. He was sent for additional tests and was diagnosed with kidney cancer. We were of course devastated. Kevin’s father had died from cancer at 59, and we knew a couple of people who were currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. We knew our lives would be forever changed. As we sat contemplating our future, Nikki came up and jumped in Kevin’s lap as though she knew something was wrong. It was at that moment that I had an idea to write down Nikki’s story. Kevin loved the idea, and it gave us something else to focus on rather than the upcoming surgery and whatever other treatment was forthcoming. We decided that if we ever had our book published, half of whatever we made would be donated to cancer research.

We made it through Kevin’s surgery and recovery, while I was sitting next to him writing page after page of things that might have happened to Nikki in no particular order. One day when my mom called from North Carolina, my three-year-old niece, Sarah, got on the phone and asked, “Aunt Laura, do you really have a Nikki the Cat?” We had told my mom and family and friends, when Nikki first came home, some of the stories we had come up with. She told me that every night little Sarah wanted Grandma to tell her a bedtime story, and Nikki was her favorite subject. She would tell her a different adventure every night, and it always had a happy ending with Nikki coming home. We decided that the story would make a good children’s book. I started researching how to write a book and how to get it published. Kevin’s cousin Danny Wiggins (our illustrator) had also overcome a cancer diagnosis and was happy to do the illustrations for a worthy cause.

I sent the text to several publishers, but it was a long process with little encouragement. The following Christmas, my father was diagnosed with an aggressive esophageal cancer. It was the push we needed to pursue our book and its cause again. When we found Author House, they were very encouraging, and we decided to self-publish our book. Nikki’s Hurricane Adventure was finally completed in February 2011. We are in the process of promoting the book, we have contacted Ochsner Hospital and made clear our intentions that half of the proceeds are going to cancer research. We have sold several copies to family, friends and co-workers, built Nikki’s webpage, introduced the book to our son’s elementary school, and pitched the idea of a school fundraiser. We have sold a few copies to a local bookstore and have sent out close to 1,000 e-mails (still ongoing). We have sent copies of our book to several distributors and are helping with a local fundraiser for a gentleman in our community who has medical bills associated with his cancer treatments. In addition, Kevin’s friend since elementary school was diagnosed with brain cancer in September and died just before Christmas at the age of 46. He left behind his wife and two young children. We believe in our book, and even more, we would love to be able to contribute toward finding a cure for this devastating disease.

On a good note, Kevin has been cancer-free for 18 months, Danny Wiggins has just passed the five-year cancer-free mark, and my dad is on his second month, although he remains on chemotherapy treatments. Laura Sanchez

This is a book that is a delight to have, to hold and to read. The story touches your heart and soul and your are left with a smile. It is a “feel good” book and I can only highly recommend it.

Tina Turbin

www.DannyTheDragon.com

k.m.

Hartford Books Examiner Interviews Danny the Dragon Author Tina Turbin

Tina Turbin — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 06:00:19 +0000

As if Tina Turbin, the multi-award-winning children’s author, wasn’t already overwhelmed with praise for the first book in her Danny the Dragon children’s series, Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy, she decided to release it as the first-ever children’s book app for the iPad and iPhone to have sign language interpretation. The author and her publicity team are now working hard to manage the soaring sales and intense interest the iPad app release has stirred up. Despite her busy schedule, Turbin was able to set aside some time to meet with the Hartford Books Examiner for a Q&A interview to talk about the latest Danny the Dragon news.

Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy, the story of how Danny forms a special friendship with Jimmy and his family, is the recipient of a number of awards including the Purple Dragon Book Awards, Mom’s Choice Awards®, Indie Excellence® Awards, International Book Awards, and the list goes on. The book is celebrated for its pro-family values and lessons of mutual kindness.

Turbin had already stood out for her humanitarian work in various fields, including children’s literacy and education, women’s issues, health, and the gluten-free diet. Then she decided to do something that would set her entirely apart from other children’s authors—she created a Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy app for the iPhone and iPad. This wasn’t an ordinary children’s book app; it contained sign language interpretation for deaf children.

In her interview with the Hartford Books Examiner, Tina said she “wanted to reach out to children and families on an even broader scale, and having Danny the Dragon as the first-ever available iPad download with sign interpretation for the deaf and hearing impaired was a milestone.” Indeed, it was the first-ever app of its kind for the hearing-impaired community and was showcased by Apple on its featured apps page. Not surprisingly, the author has received much positive feedback for her innovative product.

In the interview, Turbin offered advice to other authors who are interested in making their own children’s title into an app. First she says, “Make sure that the company you connect up with is going to do your book justice. A lot of work goes into a book by any author and to have it put up as an app by some company who doesn’t know what they’re doing can only be a disservice.”

Turbin’s iPad app was produced by iStoryTime, the app developer for DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon. The author has nothing but praise to share in regard to her experiences working with iStorytime.

At the close of her interview, the author shares some advice for parents from her heart: “…allow for your child’s quality of imagination to remain as long as possible, because that’s where their dreams are made and they can form their future through their dreams.”

When asked if she has plans for future children’s books, and whether they’ll be made available as apps, the author exclaimed, “Absolutely!” In fact, the author is actively working on future books in her West Coast studio, balancing her writing schedule with research and book tours to bookstores, libraries, and other venues. Until Danny’s next adventure comes out, readers can purchase the iPad app through iTunes or through DannytheDragon.com, where Danny fans can keep up with their favorite dragon and sign up for the Danny newsletter.

Tina Turbin

www.Dannythedragon.com

Resources:

Hartford Books Examiner: Children’s Author Tina Turbin Brings ‘Danny the Dragon’ to iPhone and iPad (Q&A) http://tinyurl.com/6682tqf

Hartford Books Examiner: Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy by Tina Turbin (a book/DVD review) http://www.examiner.com/books-in-hartford/danny-the-dragon-meets-jimmy-by-tina-turbin-a-book-dvd-review

Danny the Dragon is Featured in Notable Children’s Market Blog

Tina Turbin — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 06:00:11 +0000

I knew when I decided to launch Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy as the first iPad/iPhone children’s book app to offer sign language interpretation that I should expect some media interest. However, nothing could prepare me for the attention that the Danny the Dragon app has stirred up! In fact, I’m honored to find my app was mentioned by Alice Pope in the esteemed SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) Children’s Market Blog.

Alice Pope, former editor of the renowned Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market, blogs about the latest in the children’s market on her SCBWI Blog. On Fridays she shares the latest publishing news that caught her eye during the week with links to main articles. In her Friday column, “In the News This Week,” she featured the release of my Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy app with a link to the Ebook Newser Blog at MediaBistro.com: http://www.mediabistro.com/ebooknewser/istorytime-launches-story-app-for-deaf-children_b1479.

The launch of my iPad app has been a dream project from the very start. I had always wanted to do something special on behalf of hearing-impaired children and considered this the ideal opportunity to fulfill this promise I had made to myself after visiting a school for the deaf on my East Coast book tour. It was a pleasure working with iStoryTime, the app developer for DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon, who has created a high-quality product I can be proud of. The profits for my Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy app are being donated to support my favorite causes.

I’m happy to report that although I’ve been swamped with the media attention my app has generated, I’m still working on what I enjoy most—writing.

You can check out the story on Alice Pope’s blog yourself: http://scbwi.blogspot.com/2010/08/in-news-this-week.html.

Tina Turbin

www.DannytheDragon.com

k.m.

Danny the Dragon Recognized in the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards

Tina Turbin — Tue, 31 May 2011 06:00:41 +0000

The multi-award-winning children’s author Tina Turbin has been recognized again for the first book of her children’s book series, Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy. The illustrated children’s book, which is already the recipient of a number of awards, has been awarded in the Purple Dragon Book Awards.

The adventures of Danny the Dragon begin with Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy, the story of how Jimmy comes across Danny and his little travelling buddy, Skipper, on a family outing. The book has been acclaimed for its portrayal of family values and togetherness. The Mom’s Choice Awards®, according to its website, “recognizes authors, inventors, companies, parents and others for their efforts in creating quality family-friendly media, products and services.” Not surprisingly, this program has selected Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy as an awards recipient.

The Annual Purple Dragonfly Book Awards announced its winners in Chandler, Arizona. It is one contest in a family of Five Star Dragonfly Book contests, such as the Green Dragonfly Book Awards, which honors books that raise awareness about the environment. The Purple Dragonfly Book Awards, which recognizes high-quality children’s literature, is highly competitive.

“Winning any place in the Purple Dragonfly Contest is a huge honor because in order to maintain the integrity of the Dragonfly Book Awards, a minimum score of 55 out of 80 must be earned for a place to be awarded to the entrant – even if it is the sole entry in a category,” explains Linda Radke, president of Five Star Publications, who sponsors the Dragonfly Book Awards. “Competition is steep, too, because there is no publication date limit as long as the book is still in print.”

“It’s such an honor to have been recognized by the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards,” Turbin said about the honor. “It’s so gratifying to see that Danny the Dragon has resonated so deeply among both children and adult readers.”

The announcement comes after Turbin launched an innovative application for deaf children with iStoryTime, the iPhone App Developer for DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon. The app features sign language interpretation for the first book in Turbin’s series, Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy. The author, a renown humanitarian, is donating profits on behalf of literacy and other worthy causes.

Aside from her work as a children’s author, Turbin runs a non-profit gluten-free resource website, GlutenFreeHelp.info, which was selected as a finalist out of 6.7 million registered .info websites around the globe in the Best .Info Website Awards Program of 2010. Turbin suffered for years without an answer to her painful physical symptoms before finally, as the result of her own research, she was diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune reaction caused by gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Turbin created her website in an effort to raise awareness for the autoimmune disease and to help the gluten-free community deal with the challenges of gluten-free living. The Gluten Free Help Blog shares news, tips, recipes, and Turbin’s reviews of gluten-free books and products. The author’s other advocacy efforts include supporting children’s literacy and health, family issues, and the food allergy community.

As far as what’s next for the author, she says she’s excited to get back to work in her studio on her Danny the Dragon series. With her busy West Coast book tour wrapped up, however pleased she is with all her recognition for Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy and her gluten-free advocacy, Turbin says she wants nothing more than to do what she does best—write.

Kris Nickerson

School Library Journal Praises Danny the Dragon

Tina Turbin — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 06:00:45 +0000

It is with great pleasure that I read the encouraging review of Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy in School Library Journal. I am fortunate to have been recognized by many awards programs for this first book in the Danny the Dragon series, but what an honor it was to receive SLJ’s stamp of approval!

School Library Journal is “the world’s largest reviewer of books, multimedia, and technology for children and teens,” according to its website. The monthly magazine was founded in 1954, and its reviews on kids books are a valuable resource to librarians, teachers, and others who work with children and teens. A good review from School Library Journal shows readers that a product is recommended for young people.

The magazine not only recommends my book, but the DVD, which contains a signed reading of the book and is also available as an iPad app for deaf children, created by iStoryTime, the iPhone App Developer for DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon. Profits for the DVD and app are being donated to my favorite causes.

The review can be found in the June 2010 print issue, and an excerpt can be found at the link below:

http://www.dannythedragon.com/reading/school-library-journal-is-raving-about-danny-the-dragon/

Tina Turbin

www.DannyTheDragon.com

b.a.