They Were Mezmerized!

I am so excited! I recently read The Hippo That Flew to a class of first graders (26 of them!). You could literally hear a pin drop. One might think that the book is a trifle long for the attention span of a six year old. Yet the kids sat on the edge of their little seats as they “watched” the story unfold. They just loved it! They could not stop staring at the illustrations as they paid intense attention to the story! I had a drop of apprehension about the possible reaction of the children with regard to Wilbur’s “going to heaven,” but Wilbur’s transition is done with such innocence, and with such happiness, that their reaction was totally positive! We had a question and answer period at the end of the story and the children asked wonderful questions. They also loved seeing the author’s rough draft at the very end of the story – which happens to be a great teaching tool that the teaching staff loved! Another very cute question that one adorable little lady asked was, “Where can my Mommy buy the book?” The Hippo That Flew is sure to become a classic!

Dying is a sensitive topic ... how do you explain death to your little one?

The Hippo That Flew, SwordPen Publishers latest fiction childrens books release, isn’t just an awesome story, about never giving up, that is worthy of a Caldecott … it’s a story that allows any parent to gently explain “what life’s about.” Using Wilbur (an abstract animal character) to discuss death with children makes it easier for them to comprehend and digest, without feeling the fear that it could happen to someone they know personally. Meaning, if the story portrayed a (human) Mother/Father or Brother dying, it would hit “too close to home,” and could lead to fears of, “What if my Mommy or Daddy dies.” The disassociation of an immediate relative, makes it easier for the child to be introduced to the concept of death without feeling scared.

By using “Wilbur,” an absolutely adorable cute and cuddly hippo, an animal character that children are accustomed to seeing/reading at their age level, a separation is effected that takes the edge of fear out of their precious “little,” yet very imaginative minds. SwordPen Publishers was very careful in making their main character Wilbur extremely friendly and “happy” looking – even as he continues to fly for eternity!

It’s truly a phenomenal way to gently and sensitively explain the concept of death and passing to your child. Read the book to your child and you will see what we mean! The Hippo That Flew, even though it’s sub-plot is about a difficult and sensitive topic, is truly a must-have for every child’s storybook library.

A Room Without Books ...

G.K. Chesterton (a prolific writer of over eighty novels) once said that, A room without books is like a body without a soul. At SwordPen Publishers we feel that a child’s soul is the most precious soul of all, and that is why we believe (almost fervently!) that your child’s room should be filled full of books!

Our goal is to produce one hundred books within the next five years. Our acquisition pipeline now contains over a dozen awesome stories and we plan to release our third book, Don’t Get Stuck On Being A Duck! by next Thanksgiving. SwordPen believes in old fashioned values when it comes to your child’s “mental nutrition.” Just imagine if you were able to feed your child an ice cream sundae and fries while giving him the nutrition of spinach and broccoli.

Our stories entertain while provoking and stimulating young minds. Even our illustrations are carefully planned – as we write and edit the text – so that your child can infer much of what they are reading. So look for the SwordPen logo – and get each and every one of our stories into your child’s room … and soul! Your child will thank you … and you will one day thank us! SwordPen books – for keen young minds … and sensitive souls!

The Hippo that Flew: A Lesson for Little Ones — and Big Ones Too!

If there’s anything you want to convey to a small child, it’s that giving up is not an option—no matter what people say. Fiction childrens books are a fantastic and fun way to teach your child this important lesson. In Sword Pen’s latest literary gem, The Hippo That Flew, a young Hippo named Wilbur is certain that one day, he will fly. His peers, close friends and even his family tell him he’s crazy, but his spirit and determination is relentless. He is certain that nothing will stop him, not even gravity itself. Despite failing a few times and being laughed at by everyone, he still doesn’t give up and eventually his good attitude and his persistence pays off.

This story and most other Swordpen books are a perfect example of why everyone should buy childrens books--- they contain relevant lessons for all ages. The beautifully written, simple story makes the lesson clear for children and reminds even the most cynical adult that positive thinking leads to positive results. Follow your dreams, your passion, and your vision no matter what odds are or what any one says, and eventually you will succeed.

Childrens book publishers like Swordpen strive to share fiction childrens books with the world---high quality educational material should be affordable for everyone. So if you’re looking for the perfect gift for your child, The Hippo That Flew is available for purchase at Swordpen.com.

How to Buy Childrens Books Your Kids Will Love

Whenever I buy childrens books, I always wonder, what makes a good one? It’s a difficult question, and the answer is different for every child, depending on his or her age, interests, reading level, family values, and mood. Because, let’s face it, when your child is feeling restless, no book is a good book.

But for those glorious moments when your child is ready and willing to read, here are three basic guidelines to follow:

Find a plot with a beginning, middle, and end.

A good plot isn’t just entertaining, it’s a perfect opportunity to teach your child about cause and effect, and that everyone’s actions have consequences. In fact, following the events of a story can help sharpen key critical thinking skills that will benefit your child all the way up to the SATs, and beyond!

Look at the quality of the illustrations.

Children, especially young ones, probably aren’t going to catch every word of a story, so it’s important for you to find a book with informative illustrations that restate the content of the narrative. Besides, if the art is really beautiful, it might even inspire your child to create something special.

Make sure it was a book first, not a movie.

Most adults look down on reading the “novelizations” of films and TV shows, and they shouldn’t encourage it in their children, either. There’s nothing inherently wrong with a book inspired by a movie, but all too often these texts include sparse narration next to still shots from the original production.

Hopefully these tips will help you select children’s books your whole family will enjoy. You can begin your search right here at Swordpen today!

Fiction Childrens Books We Love: How Mice Became Small

It’s so nice to find a children’s book that parents can also enjoy, but most fiction childrens books are written without any jokes or references designed for grown ups. You’d think all that effort you put into acting out the different voices would earn you at least a couple of big-people laughs, wouldn’t you?

Fortunately, some books are fun for parents as well as children, such as Zev Lewinson’s How Mice Became Small. Enhanced by Debi Coules’ beautiful illustrations, this book tells the story of how mice were transformed from giant, ferocious creatures (bigger than lions or tigers!) to the cute, snuggly animals we know them as today.

All that might sound pretty childish, but How Mice Became Small includes a variety of jokes for adults, like the tyrant mouse ruler King James, who appears on the cover of “Newsqueak” magazine and, following unrest for his underlings, unabashedly declares “Let them eat cheesecake!”

And for the kids, How Mice Became Small is full of fun-to-read sections, including the frequently repeated title, “His Royal Highness, King of Kings, Haughtiest and Naughtiest, Epitome of Evil and Ruthlessness, King James,” as well as the rhyming spell cast by a heroic elf.

Available from Swordpen, How Mice Became Small truly has something for everyone!

Welcome to SwordPen Blog!

Sometimes it feels that with all the iPods, Wiis, PSPs, HDTVs, Youtubes and Twitters, the only words we read are electronic words that are splattered on a screen. Indeed, all the gadgetry and technology made us forget about books and it seems that the only time we turn to books is when there’s a power shortage, and the iPhone’s out of battery or something.

But the fact is that no electronics or machines can come near to the excitement we get when reading a good book. That’s the reason SwordPen Publishers takes reading as more than just a minor pastime when there is really nothing else to do. At SwordPen we take reading as a passion, as one of the best things to do any given time.

I mean, look back to your childhood. Do you remember you and your dad playing Nintendo? No! Well, of course it wasn’t invented yet but still, try to relive the moment when you set on your parent’s lap with your favorite story of all times. You can’t match that! Not with a video game that’s for sure.

Yup, we could’ve gotten into video games and make a lot of money, but we chose to recreate that warm memories that you have, for your children, through our quality books.

The books that we publish are great for children of all ages and they aim to help them deal with life’s surprises and situations while promoting their spirits and inner growth. These are stories that will not go away, but stay, inviting new thoughts and nurturing your child’s mind.

We got this blog up and running in order to keep you and your family updated about the wonderful world of fiction childrens books that is out there and. So in the meanwhile, visit our site at www.swordpen.com and don’t forget to visit our blogs weekly and… you will live happily ever after.