It’s always an honor to be recognized for your work.  I don’t think anyone could deny that statement and recognition from your peers is always a grand experience.  With Danny the Dragon receiving non-stop recognition since its release, I keep thinking it can’t get better.  A few months ago, I received confirmation that my eBook about my other undeniable cause Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free living Gluten and Your Aging Body had not only been nominated, but won a Silver Medal for eBooks in the Florida Publisher’s Association’s President’s Book Awards.

The Florida Publisher’s Association is a collection of publishers, self-publishers, authors, publishing industry friends and publishing vendors from Florida founded in 1983 by Betty Wright with the intent of giving Florida’s growing group of book publishers an opportunity for education and networking.  In 2005, then-President of the group Dinah Arnette decided to start recognizing the authors and publishers of the group in honor of their 25^th anniversary, establishing the FPA President’s Book Awards.  The tradition continued and in 2011 they decided to open the competition up to the public for the first time.

I cannot express fully how honored I am to be a part of this incredible group and to be featured among the other winners.  To have two books recognized for excellence by my peers in the publishing and writing industry is the greatest honor I could ever ask for.

Thank you, FPA and thank you colleagues.  It truly is a great honor.

Tina

www.GlutenFreeHelp.info

 It’s always so exciting when Danny and I are mentioned in the papers! During my Danny the Dragon East Coast Book Tour, we really made waves as reviews and news of Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy seemed to pop up everywhere. I just had to share one of the articles with you that is particularly special to me!

The Dunedin Beacon of Tampa Bay not only talked about Danny the Dragon but discussed one of the causes I’m highly passionate about–deaf children’s literacy–and my DVD developed on behalf of this cause. I will never forget that fateful day of my book tour when I visited a school for the deaf and read them my book with the help of a sign language interpreter. The author of the article writes: “…she was alarmed to learn that a high percentage of deaf high school students graduate at the 4th grade reading level…This opened up her eyes to the need for materials to assist their education and raise awareness to these facts. Turbin personally produced the DVD as a result.” And what a success the DVD has been! Parents and children love it, and it’s the recipient of the Creative Child Magazine Media of the Year Award! Profits are being donated to my favorite literacy and other worthy causes.

Thanks so much to the Dunedin Beacon for mentioning Danny and me, and most importantly, for bringing awareness to this important cause!!!

Tina Turbin

Writing and reading go hand in hand. As Stephen King wrote, “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” That’s why I set aside time every day to read, not just children’s books, but works of adult fiction and non-fiction that inspire me.

When my children were young, I used to take them to the library every week in order to expose them to quality children’s literature and cultivate an interest in reading. My imagination would take off like crazy during these trips, as I saw examples of fine illustrated kids books. I couldn’t wait to create a series of my own.

Even now with my hectic schedule after I’ve launched my Danny the Dragon children’s  book series, and even though my kids are all grown, I still keep abreast of the children’s literature market for my own edification and inspiration by checking out the latest kids books. I also devote part of my day to reading whatever captures my imagination from children’s and adult book authors alike.

Tina Turbin

www.DannytheDragon.com

Before my visit to a school for the deaf on my East Coast book tour to promote my children’s title, Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy, I hardly knew anything about the subject of deaf literacy. However, since that life-changing day,when I decided to do something on behalf of this issue, I now understand the complexity of the issue, especially for parents of deaf children. Perhaps the most important decision you’ll make as the parent of a deaf child is which method of communication is best for your child. If you’ve decided that your child should join the 219,000 deaf people worldwide who have opted for cochlear implants along with deaf oral education so that they can use spoken language, the issue of timing comes up: when is the best time for your child to get the cochlear implants becomes an issue?

As the parent of a deaf child, it’s likely that you yourself are hearing and that the deaf world is new to you. After all, 90% of deaf children have hearing parents. That means there’s a lot to learn. If you’re interested in getting your young child cochlear implants, you’ve likely chosen this because you’d like your child to have the same opportunitities, educational and professional, as hearing children and adults. As your child becomes better and better with spoken language, you’ll find that he or she is able to attend the same regular classes and participate in the same activities as most of his or her peers. In this way, cochlear implants can be an exciting prospect with the promise of a bright future for your deaf child.

Now the question of “When?” arises. When is the best time for your child to get cochlear implantation surgery? According to research, early implantation allows for earlier exposure to sounds during the critical speech-learning period for children. According to Bella Online, most children are between the ages of 2 and 6 when they get their implants. In the U.S. in 2000, the age requirement for one of the types of cochlear implants was lowered to 12 months.

Is this too young? According to Bella Online, research is showing that “an overwhelmingly majority” of deaf children who don’t have any other health issues see an enhancement in their quality of life as a result of their cochlear implants: “The earlier the implantation the more likely the child will develop hearing, speech, language and cognitive skills at a level similar to a normal hearing child.” In addition to having the same educational and career opportunities, these children are easier to handle by their parents, fit in better socially, able to do activities like using a phone or going to the movies. Science Daily reports that in one study, “the children who received cochlear implants at the youngest ages have nearly the same spoken language skills as children with normal hearing.” Other unpublished studies show that by the age of 4 and a half years old, early implantation children have normal speech and could most likely start school with their hearing peers.

Deciding whether or not to go with cochlear implants is a complex decision, however, that requires time and research. Just as with any surgical procedure, there are risks. Parents may also be hesitant to have their small child undergo such an intensive procedure, and understandably. Moreover, once the procedure is done, the parts of the ear involved in hearing are permanently destroyed so that natural hearing will never take place. Deaf oral education and auditory-verbal therapy are also time-intensive, requiring the participation of the entire family. By the time your child has been correctly diagnosed as deaf or hard of hearing, you’ve done your research, and come up with the funds for the operation, your child may be well into his toddler years or older.

As a children’s author and child and family advocate, I’m often asked for advice on all sorts of issues. Although I do lecture, speak, and write on a variety of subjects related to children, I always reassure parents that they are ultimately responsible for their child and know what’s best for him or her. Study the facts, seek professional advice from as many qualified specialists as possible, and consider what’s best for your child. The facts are showing that early implantation is highly effective in establishing language and speaking skills in deaf children, but the decision to go ahead with this is highly involved and will affect your child and your family from here on out.

Tina Turbin

Treasure Hunt with the Munch Crunch Bunch is a storybook and activity book in one designed for children to help them learn about food so they themselves can be empowered to make healthy choices. Now what parent wouldn’t want that?

This book has lots of fun, hands-on activities for families: board games; fruit and vegetable food riddles (“foodles”); ways to make grocery shopping educational and fun; and a terrific read tucked inside.

Designed for 3-8 year olds, this book has so much color and life it’s entertaining for any parent, relative or teacher. The book is really laid out perfectly so you can simply follow the directions, have fun and learn.

The key appealing point is that the book does not come across AT ALL as if it’s trying to teach, which kids are quick to notice. There’s no better way to learn at these ages than through play, experience and fun. This book offers just this. I haven’t come across a hands-on book this good in a long time.

Author Jan Wotterman is responsible for the nutrition resource material. She conducted an in-class nutrition activity with a select group of 17 out of 73 students using her book. Then each of the 73 families filled out an initial list of foods eaten. Each of the 17 children took their book home and parents read to their children and used the “foodle” cards as shopping lists.

Three weeks later, a questionnaire was sent home to each of the 73 students in the class (to both the book-reading group and the control group). The statistics proved that only the 17 students in the group who read the book increased fruit and vegetable consumption and decreased high-fat and high-sugar consumption. This book made a difference for the whole family!

I can only highly recommend this book.

Tina Turbin

www.DannytheDragon.com

k.m.

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.

In my work as a children’s author, researcher, and kids’ health advocate, I stay abreast of the latest health news in an effort to safeguard the health of children.  In my research, I have come across alarming reports from Australia, regarding the health risk of the flu vaccine in children, the same vaccine we use in the U.S. Several startling symptoms have been reported in dozens of children, and the vaccine is now banned by Australian authorities for children under five. In the U.S., however, the vaccine is still being implemented.

According to WA Today, it was announced by the Commonwealth chief health officer, Professor Jim Bishop, that flu vaccinations in kids under five were banned in Australia after 23 children in Western Australia were admitted to hospitals due to convulsions after their injections. One of these children, a one-year-old, went into a coma. It turns out that more than 60 children reacted adversely to the vaccine, showing symptoms such as vomiting and febrile convulsions.

Child Health Associate Professor Peter Richmond of the University of Western Australia School of Pediatrics said that only Fluvax, produced by the largest biopharmaceutical company in Australia called CSL, was being used to vaccinate children in WA. Concerns have been raised regarding why it took two weeks of reports of adverse reactions to the vaccine in children before the ban was implemented. Professor Richmond stressed that the vast majority of children receiving Fluvax hadn’t reported such complications.

Despite the fact that the Commonwealth chief medical officer issued a warning to the country regarding the vaccine, the U.S. and U.K., which are using the same vaccine, haven’t suspended vaccinations. According to Natural News, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) “has insisted that all children in the USA — regardless of age — should now be injected with this very same flu vaccine,” according to Natural News.

What is responsible in the vaccine for these convulsions? There is a chemical called an “adjuvant,” a standard vaccine ingredient added in order to stimulate the immune system to respond to the weakened virus in the vaccine. According to Natural News, adjuvants are made up of a very inflammatory chemical that can cause brain tissue and nervous system damage, and researchers suspect that it can increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders. According to Mike Adams, the editor of Natural News, “It is this adjuvant that most likely caused the convulsions in children.”

There’s no doubt that most parents have heard about the possible health risks associated with vaccinations. With an alarmingly high and growing number of autistic children in the U.S., the link between vaccines and the neurodevelopmental disorder is being examined by the medical community with more fervor than ever. The vaccine health emergency in West Australia is an important reminder to the U.S. that medical authorities may not be fully informed about the effects of vaccines and that the wide-scale immunization policy we apply in our country may perhaps not be the optimum for safeguarding the health of our children.

Along this line, it’s interesting that, while noting that even though it hadn’t been determined yet whether the flu vaccine itself was responsible for the convulsions in children, Dr. Richmond nevertheless recommended that people over the age of five in the meantime should still get vaccinated with it.

Natural News raises the question of whether immunization is necessary at all. The news website posted a series of graphs of incidence of children’s diseases, including whooping cough, diphtheria, measles, typhoid fever, and polio, which indicated that the rate of disease incidence was already following a declining trend before the vaccines were introduced.

In the end, it’s up to parents to make informed decisions regarding immunizing their children. Studies show that vitamin D and probiotics are effective in preventing the flu in children; these supplements aren’t embroiled in controversy nor are there any risks associated with them. By taking the time to inform ourselves as parents, speaking with qualified health care professionals, and examining the facts, we may be able to avoid putting our children in harm’s way before it’s too late. This is true in immunizations as well as many other aspects of your children’s health.

Tina Turbin

www.DannytheDragon.com

k.m.

Resources:

WA News: Flu vaccination ban goes national after fever, convulsions in children http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/flu-vaccination-ban-goes-national-after-fever-convulsions-in-children-20100423-tglp.html?from=age_ft

Natural News: Australia bans flu vaccines in children after vomiting, fevers, seizures http://www.naturalnews.com/029586_Australia_vaccines.html

Natural News: Probiotics Controls Colds and Flu http://www.naturalnews.com/027574_probiotics_colds.html

Nutra Ingredients: Vitamin D Shows Promise Against Seasonal Flu: Study http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Vitamin-D-shows-promise-against-seasonal-flu-Study

Susie is six and can’t count to thirty without missing a few numbers.  Johnny has almost finished eighth grade but hasn’t started pre-algebra. “Oh dear, oh dear, my child is falling behind.”

Just as one child can be given the label “Attention Deficit Disorder” because some adults cannot tolerate his activity level, so can another child be given the label “behind” because he does not match up with some adults’ scholastic expectations.

The definition of “behind” that applies from the unabridged Random House Dictionary is: In the state of making less progress than. The question parents and teachers must ask themselves is, “making less progress than whom?”  When we think this through, we see it is no different than asking “being more active than whom?”

The adults in a child’s life should be careful not to put their own expectations or worries about academic progress on their child.  The truth is a child is uniquely himself; activity level, scholastic aptitude, cleverness, imagination and every other attribute must be gauged against the individual.  When this is understood, labeling a child is no longer appropriate.

Perhaps you understand this concept perfectly and prohibit anyone from labeling your child – but your child labels himself?  What can you do?

When a child considers that he is behind, it is because he is comparing himself against someone else or others, rather than against his own potential.  This situation must be addressed: you don’t want your child feeling unhappy or embarrassed or to lose self-respect because he thinks he’s “behind.”

Talk with him.  Let him know that we all have strengths and weaknesses.   Don’t evaluate for him.  Listen and find out what he considers his strengths and weaknesses to be.   You may, of course, guide him to ensure he does not dwell only on weak points.

Then let him know that he need not compare himself to anyone else.  Discuss that when one is “behind” in something, it is because he considers that he could have done more than he did, or he planned to do more and didn’t get it all done.  What is important here is his consideration about himself and his actions.

Give him the example that if one considers he is behind in his chores it is because he didn’t get them all done.  In the case of chores, he can simply complete them right away or devise a step-by-step plan to complete them in the near future.

The same is true of learning.  If one wishes to know the capital of California, he can simply look it up in an atlas right now; if he wishes to know the capital city of each state in the union, he can devise a plan to research them over a period of time.  Have your child give you examples of setting goals and working toward them until they are accomplished.  Have him give you examples of how he can apply this to his education.  Help him to see that although others can guide him, he is ultimately responsible for being “ahead” or “behind” where he wants to be.

The bottom line – a student should only be in competition with himself.  Your child will probably be relieved to know education is not a competitive sport and that he need not judge himself by the accomplishments of others.

At this point, you can show your child how easy it is to use one’s strengths to overcome areas of difficulty.  He simply needs to find a strong purpose (a good reason) to conquer the difficulty, a decision (intention) to actually conquer it, and the willingness to work at it (practice or drill) until he succeeds.  Discuss this with your child and listen to his ideas.  Such discussions should increase your child’s confidence and help him to be more at home with himself.

Courtesy of Carlynn McCormick, Copyright 2010, All Rights Reserved.

Tina Turbin

www.DannyTheDragon.com

k.m.

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.

Danny fans can now see a preview of the iPad Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy app, which stands out as a groundbreaking innovation for being the first children’s book app with a sign language interpretation mode. iStoryTime, the app developer for DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon, has posted a sample of the signed reading of the book on You Tube.

I’m very pleased with the wonderful job iStorytime has done with the app. iStoryTime co-founder, Woody Sears, has said of the project, “We are extremely proud to release the first-ever children’s book app for the deaf community.”

Check out the link below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bijyi6sO20k&feature=fvw

The full app is available for purchase from the iTunes app store.

Tina Turbin

www.DannyTheDragon.com