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

When I visited a school for the deaf on my East Coast book tour for my children’s book, Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy, I hardly knew much of anything on the subject of deafness and hearing problems. Since making the promise to myself to reach out to deaf and hard of hearing children, first by releasing the first children’s book iPad app with sign language interpretation, I learned about tinnitus among children, surprised by how common it among kids. If your child has been diagnosed with tinnitus, you two can rest fairly comfortable with the fact that many children with tinnitus eventually grow out of it. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some things you can do to alleviate it in the meantime. Along with a qualified healthcare practitioner, you may be able to find some natural remedies that can lessen your child’s tinnitus or cure it altogether.

There are many possible causes of tinnitus, a condition used to describe hearing a noise, such as ringing, not present in the environment. Tinnitus varies in its severity, ranging from hardly noticeable or mildly annoying to debilitating. Some possible causes of your child’s tinnitus could include ear or sinus infections, leftover fluid from an ear infection (which can last up to three months after the infection), earwax buildup, ear injuries, circulation problems, or abnormal growth of bone in the middle ear. Due to the variety of possible causes behind tinnitus, your child’s doctor may suggest any of a number of remedies including medication or sound therapy. Studies have shown, however, that there are natural remedies for tinnitus. It may be worth checking with your child’s doctor about these supplements and treatments. After all, according to health researcher and journalist June Russell, medications rarely improve tinnitus.

First, evaluate whether or not your child’s medication or diet is causing or aggravating the tinnitus. It’s possible that his or her medication may be toxic to the ear (“ototoxic”) or have the condition as one of its side effects. Switching to another medication, reducing the dosage, or discontinuing its use may help the tinnitus or get rid of it altogether.  Food allergies have also been linked to tinnitus. Some possible diet culprits include aspartame, cheese, chocolate, soy, and tonic water. A diet low or free of salt and fat has also been recommended by experts.

A regimen of nutritional and herbal supplements has been recommended by physicians to help with tinnitus. Russell reports that tinnitus sufferers tend to be deficient in B-12. She writes, “Emily A. Kane, naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist, recommends a daily dose of 2,000 mcg of B-12 for one month, followed by a dose of 1,000 mcg daily, if needed.” Dr. Michael Seidman, MD, Director of the Henry Ford Health System, Department of Otolaryngology, Tinnitus Clinic, in Bloomfield, Michigan, recommends a wide variety of antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C, and E, zinc, choline, magnesium, melatonin, vinpocetine, Ginkgo biloba, ipriflavone, arginine, alpha lipoic acid, zinc, , n-acetylcysteine, Chinese herbs, B vitamins and garlic.

In fact, Ginkgo biloba is becoming increasingly used to treat tinnitus among European and American doctors; according to Russell, “a few good trials suggest that this herb may lower the perceived loudness.” Meet with a qualified health practitioner about how much of this supplement, and which type, to use for your child’s tinnitus.

Some other natural treatments include acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, and homeopathy. Relaxation has been shown to relieve children’s tinnitus, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Consult your family’s physician for affective relaxation techniques and take practical steps to minimize your child’s stress level, such as helping him or her with homework or making sure he or she doesn’t take on too many extracurricular activities.

The good news is that, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, “most children with tinnitus seem to eventually outgrow the symptom.” However, this doesn’t mean your child should have to experience the discomfort of the condition if it can be remedied or at least alleviated with natural remedies. I encourage parents of children with tinnitus to meet with a qualified practitioner as soon as possible to find out if your child may benefit from these.

Tina Turbin

Resources:

American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery: Fact Sheet: When Your Child Has Tinnitus http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/Child-Tinnitus.cfm

Communication Agents Journal: Treating Tinnitus Naturally http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/2005/05/04/treating_tinnitus_naturally.htm

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

Tinnitis can vary in severity among children, but as with any health condition, it can be hard to cope with it, especially when you’re a child. When I visited a school for the deaf on my East Coast book tour for my children’s book, Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy, I connected with the kids on a very special level and began to conduct research in the areas of deafness and hearing problems such as tinnitus. One of the most interesting discoveries I made had to do with how common tinnitus actually is, and how many great artists and celebrities must cope with this disorder as well. Share with your child some inspiring stories about artists who have learned to cope with and bring awareness to this complex condition.

In fact, with an estimated 50 million Americans suffering with some degree of tinnitus, according to the American Tinnitus Association, it’s not an uncommon condition, as it affects more than 15% of the population. The severity of the condition varies, ranging from hardly noticeable or mildly annoying to debilitating. Your child’s tinnitus could have been set off by an ear or sinus infection, earwax buildup, medication, or an ear injury, among many possible causes. There are several recommended treatments and therapies, and according to experts, it’s likely that children with tinnitus will eventually outgrow the condition. One of the recommendations by the American Academy of Otolaryngology is to reassure that your child isn’t alone. What better way to do this than to share with your child the fact many artists and musicians have had or currently have tinnitus?

Despite their tinnitus, some famous figures from history were able to accomplish many great things in their fields. Such figures include the most famous reformer in history, Martin Luther, philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Vincent Van Gogh, and Jean-Jean-Francois Champollion, who deciphered the Egyptian hieroglyphs on the Rosetta Stone. American presidents with the condition include Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton.

Many musicians have suffered from tinnitus as well, including Ludwig Van Beethoven, Eric Clapton, Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan, Ozzy Ozborne, Huey Lewis, and Bono. Songs about tinnitus include “Call Letter Blues” by Bob Dylan, “Turn the Page” by Bob Seger, “Something I Can Never Have” and “The Becoming” by Nine Inch Nails, and “Staring at the Sun” by U2.

Several celebrities have tinnitus caused by damage done to their ears during their careers. According to RingingEars.net, actor and comedian Steve Martin developed tinnitus from a gun shootout during the filming of Three Amigos! Pete Townsend of The Who sustained severing damage to his ears from playing music as well as an incident on stage when drummer Keith Moon blew up his drum set, which caused permanent deafness in one of Townsend’s ears. William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy both experienced damage to their ears from their work on the set of Star Trek during mid 1960’s. Other celebrities with tinnitus include Sylvester Stallone, Leslie Nielson, and David Letterman, who has had tinnitus in one ear for a long time, according to RingingEars.net.

Your child is not only not alone with tinnitus, but he or she has the company of many great individuals who have learned to cope with their condition and sometimes channel their feelings into their work, creating musical pieces and contributing to their respective fields. Share some of these stories with your child and listen to some songs about tinnitus, and I bet your child will not only feel not alone but even a little special.

Tina Turbin

Resources:

American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery: Fact Sheet: When Your Child Has Tinnitus http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/Child-Tinnitus.cfm

Communication Agents Journal: Treating Tinnitus Naturally http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/2005/05/04/treating_tinnitus_naturally.htm

Ringingears.net: Celebrities with Tinnitus http://ringinginears.net/2007-10-10/celebrities-with-tinnitus/

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

I consider myself truly blessed for the kind words I hear from Danny the Dragon fans. They write in to tell me how special Danny is to them and their families. It’s quite something to see that something from my own imagination can capture the imaginations of so many children!

My favorite feedback I get, however, is from aspiring authors (kids and grown-ups alike) who not only enjoy my Danny the Dragon series but are inspired by my story of how I became an award-winning children’s author.

Take a look at the review below to see how I’ve inspired aspiring writer Theresa, mother of eight children (wow!) and product reviewer for Faith and FamilyReviews:

http://faithandfamilyreviews.com/2011/04/04/2010-award-winning-author-an-inspiration/

Tina Turbin

www.DannytheDragon.com

Award winning children’s author, Tina Turbin, achieves yet another victory.

Los Angeles, CA-

Acclaimed children’s author Tina Turbin, best known for her multi-award-winning Danny the Dragon children’s book series, recently made two radio appearances on Magnificent Menopause and Beyond—Embracing Midlife to talk about celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. Both of her radio interviews have been selected for broadcast on the major women’s radio station Heartbeat Radio for Women, a tremendous victory for the celiac community.

A passionate advocate for celiac disease, an autoimmune disease triggered by gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, Turbin appeared on Magnificent Menopause and Beyond to speak with co-hosts and menopause specialists Gail Edgell and Carrie Pierce about the disease, the gluten-free lifestyle, and her new eBook, “Gluten and Your Aging Body,” available for sale on the author’s non-profit website, http://www.GlutenFreeHelp.info.

Magnificent Menopause and Beyond has been picked up by a leading women’s radio station, Heartbeat Radio for Women, based in Florida with 70,000 female listeners. The station is launching Edgell and Pierces’s program with their best 10 archived shows of their choosing. The co-hosts made sure to choose both of Turbin’s radio interviews to be featured. The program has additionally been picked up by a global health website, which has placed the show’s widget, containing Turbin’s two interviews, on their site.

Magnificent Menopause and Beyond covers a wide range of topics for 40+ women and welcomes male listeners as well. Their broadcasts cover subjects such as health and nutrition, beauty, finances, sexuality, and spirituality for midlife women featuring qualified professionals in these respective fields. Edgell is an exercise physiologist, author, and trainer, and Pierce is a licensed aesthetician, author and menopause skincare expert.

Tina Turbin is best-known for her critically acclaimed illustrated children’s book, Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy, which has been honored by the iParenting Media Awards, International Book Awards, and the Mom’s Choice Awards among others. The author recently released an innovative iPad app for Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy, the very first children’s book app to offer sign language interpretation. The product, which was created by iStoryTime, the iPhone app developer for DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon, was featured by Apple and remains among its top recommendations.

In addition to her work as an author, Turbin is a leading gluten-free advocate whose non-profit website, http://www.GlutenFreeHelp.info, was chosen as number two out of 6.7 million registered .info websites around the world in the “Best .INFO Website Awards Program of 2010” by Afilias, the registry operator of .info. The website has become one of the most highly regarded web resources for the gluten-free community, featuring cutting-edge news, research, helpful tips, gluten-free recipes, and gluten-free product and company reviews.

“This is terrific news for the gluten-free community!” Turbin says. “I am honored that Gail and Carrie have selected my interviews to be broadcasted to such a large audience, and I admire them for their contribution to the cause of raising awareness of celiac disease.”

You can listen to Turbin’s interviews at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/magnificentmenopause or http://www.menopauserus.com/Radio_Show_Archives.html. Turbin’s eBook, “Gluten and Your Aging Body” can be purchased on her website at http://www.glutenfreehelp.info/ebooks-for-sale/gluten-and-your-aging-bod-ebook.

To book Tina Turbin for an interview or speaking engagement: Contact media(at)glutenfreehelp(dot)info

To learn more about Danny the Dragon: Visit http://www.DannytheDragon.com.

To purchase Danny the Dragon products: Contact Imagination Publishing Group at ImaginationPublishingGroup(at)gmail(dot)com or call 888-701-6481. Also available through: Amazon.com, Victory Multimedia, Barnes and Noble, Blockbuster Video, Baker and Taylor, and other major distributors.

Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy DVD: 837654741191, $24.95
Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy paperback: 978-0-9800-721-0-5, $8.95
Danny the Dragon Dreams CD/Audiobook: 978-0-9800-721-3-6, $8.95

DVD profits are generously donated by the author to support causes to improve literacy and education.

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.

I so admire authors who have an important cause to get behind. That’s why I had such a rewarding experience reading and reviewing Nikki’s Hurricane Adventure by Kevin and Laura Sanchez, the story of real-life Nikki the cat who was lost 85 miles from her Louisiana home while her family was evacuating for Hurricane Gustav and found her way home all by herself months later!

Find out more about Nikki’s story and purchase the book here:

http://www.nikkishurricaneadventure.com/

Stay tuned to hear more from me about Kevin and Laura’s inspiring cause!

Tina Turbin

www.DannytheDragon.com

k.m.

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.

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.