The credits on the title are changing due to a couple of additions. Top secret leading star and additional guest stars...    

 

 

 

    

 

 

 Jeffrey Biegel is the gentleman in the picture below.  He also guest stars as, "Chet," the little beagle dog.  Each time I see Jeffrey perform and his fingers shuffle across the piano at ligtening quick speed, I am overwhelmed by disbelief.  His playing is sensational and glorious to the ear. I am honored he has generously agreed to perform and compose in our book and cartoon animation.

 "Jeffrey Biegel, who played some fantastic Liszt the other night at the St. Regis during the dinner in my honor, ... is a splendid musician and a brilliant performer. I think you will be proud to present him to the public."— Leonard Bernstein. 

 Need I say more... 

 

For more information on Jeffrey Biegel go to: http://www.jeffreybiegel.com   

Okay, here it is. A comment my pal and guest star in our book, " 'OW!' Sang the Cow," made today on our Facebook. Fun stuff:

Not only was this the most awesome Mother’s Day weekend EVER but the most incredible way to start the weekend off, Friday…

I had the honor of meeting one of the most respected and admired television and radio news sportscasters, Bruce Wolf.  Mr. Wolf and I will be joining forces together with my team here at All Around Our World, Inc., to work on our audio books and cartoons coming soon. These cartoons are based on the AAOW’s with “Our Little Friends” book series, and AAOW’s, “Chase Ryan’s Adventures”.  We are releasing two different books in the following few months.

One will be a musical with singing animals, which helps a child realize that they should not ever be too afraid or ashamed to express themselves or identifying who they are and their own individuality. The other will be based on helping a child who has lost a loved one in one way or another. They both are loving, nurturing books, and many talented artists will be performing in them. I feel so privileged! Keep coming back to www.AAOWINC.com or www.KDSBOOX.com for more updates and information when these will be available and when/where we will be performing our shows.

I’d like to get back to who Mr. Wolf is and a story I feel I must explain; as it means too much to me not to -- 

At the young age of 17, I was actually working hard and going to a community college in preparation to raise my new baby. Yes, I was a teenage mother at 18 -- a blog special on “teenage parenting” would be good to talk about, but perhaps another time…

Bruce Wolf is well known for being a Chicago sports anchor on both television and radio for more than 20 years. He started work at WXRT radio in 1979 where he did morning sportscasts. In 1982 he joined my favorite, 97.9 WLUP radio with Jonathon Brandmeier, also doing sportscasts. I loved to listen to him daily as everyone at work did as well. The dial was always set on the “Loop” for years, even before I began to work there. While working for WLUP, Wolf created a character named "Chet Chitchat", a blended caricature of Chicago sportscasters Chet Coppock and Chuck Swirsky (his predecessor at WLUP), which became a weekly feature on the station's morning program while presenting his hysterical lobotomy line on sports. In 1987, Wolf joined WFLD FOX News Chicago, where he became the morning sports anchor. While working for FOX he received three local Emmys. After 18 years working for WFLD-TV, shortly thereafter he joined WMAQ-TV (NBC 5) where he remained for two years first on the traffic beat and then as a sports anchor. I am also pleased to say Bruce has earned a law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law.

So, not only is Mr. Wolf known for his unique brand of quick, sharp thinking, he exudes confidence and intelligence, and there’s never a dull moment with him. I’ve always admired these qualities in him and still do. He gave me something to look forward to each day of my difficult and somewhat challenging young adult life. He put a smile on my face and and made me laugh, guaranteed to be there to pick me up as he did for many of us over the years, and will continue to do so for years to come.I am so grateful Bruce has decided to join our team of animators, musicians and artists to create outstanding children’s classics and memories.

Welcome, Bruce!

www.KDSBOOX.com, www.AAOWINC.com, or www.allaroundourworld.com

Last year, a dear friend of mine introduced me to a new love and hobby of mine. I am so grateful that he did because now I've introduced the sport to my children as well, and they really enjoy it.

I wish I'd known how much I'd appreciate and love the game of golf at an earlier stage in life. But I am grateful to have it introduced to me now, and am able to spend time with dear friends and family to enjoy playing it with.

I want to thank my friends/authors/golfer buddies for joining me last week. We had such a blast! Let's plan another outing soon.

As time goes by, we are all struggling each day to keep up with the crazy economy. I've often found myself daydreaming of ways to keep everyone smiling through these hard times. It's not easy, believe me. As a single mother, times are harder now than ever but it's important to keep our head up and shrug off the small things.

When children detect their parent's stress, most times there will be a springboard effect. You may start to see it in their school work, ability to wake up in the morning, sudden change in behavior and over emotional reactions to things. Impact on a child when seeing his/her parents upset can be very serious. Keeping an eye on this and opening up and sharing with each other is so important. We should try to learn what it is our children are thinking so we can help them communicate what it is they are feeling.

I find it to be most enjoyable at the dinner table to hear what is on each of their minds. I will start off with one child at a time and ask them about their day. Sometimes my son is not as open to sharing about his but I am working on that. I've noticed the more I involve him and get his opinion on things, the better he feels. On the other hand, my 8 year old opens up in a second and can talk and talk and talk. That just goes to show how different each child is!

I encourage any of you who have children, or not, to feel free to join me and write us here at AAOW INC and let us know what type of advice you would give any parent out there who is struggling. All helpful suggestions will graciously be accepted and posted.

Our next book coming out is based on struggling and feeling alone. I really hope it helps.

Have a beautiful week!

Hello All!

I am attempting to catch you up with the latest but have been really busy after my OUTSTANDING trip to the International American Toy Fair in New York.

I'll start by saying I networked with some of the nicest and most amazing people. I wish I could share photographs with you of the show and the fun people, but unfortunately it is against regulations to take pictures at the fair. Although, I did see a guy there sneaking some shots. I hope they busted him! I did take some pictures of the beautiful city lights at night, I will share in a little bit.

Anyhow, the show was terrific. I met many new connections, (you know who you are), made new deals, networked and accomplished every goal I had set for myself the very first day I attended. The fair had three floors packed with booths. There were book publishers, buyers from large chain and small stores, toy distributors, artists, manufacturers, and swarms of people from all over the world. IT WAS FABULOUS!!

I would like to give a special thanks to my friend, Bryce, for suggesting that I go out there to help my business grow, and meet all my connections face to face. He is a special person with a kind heart and a great mentor/example to me. With me being a newby to New York City, he acted as a father figure and gave me some very helpful words of advice of "do's" and "don'ts", so I would be safe out there by myself. Thanks again, my friend.

Last but not least, New York City is beautiful! I have every intention of going back out there to the next show. If there is anyone out there who went to the show and who would like to share your experience with us, please drop a note. Also, if you plan on going to the next show, let me know and we can hook up out there!

Peace to All...

Brenda

Children's Books Printed Before 1985 May Contain Lead Paint

I must be a little late to hear this news as I was out of town last week attending the International Toy Fair, but I happened across this article online that the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) considers children's books published before 1985 unsafe as they may contain lead pigments in the inks.

Is anything safe for our kids anymore?  Children's books of all things! Many of my old books are treasured heirlooms, classics that I just can't bring myself to throw away. Although this article says that lead in old illustration books doesn't pose a hazard to children, I know I don't want my children exposed to the risk of lead based paint. I need not to be concerned with my books because they were printed after 1985!  I found lead paint testing kits online, and they are relatively inexpensive.

Even if the paint doesn't tend to fall of in chunks or flakes for toddlers to put in their mouths, they are still prone to chewing and licking practically everthing in site. My children are well beyond this age, but if you have old children's books that you planned to read to your children, you may want to consider testing them for lead paint along with everything else they play with.

I will get back to you soon to talk about the outstanding Toy Fair in New York. Sorry it has taken me so long but I am trying to get organized after being out of town for so long... Brenda

Hello Everybody!!
 
I would like to keep you all up to date on our latest ventures with All Around Our World.
 
I am extremely excited to announce that I will be traveling to New York to the American International Toy Fair on February 15th - 18th. This is the largest toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere. More than 1,500 manufacturers, distributors, importers and sales agents from 30 countries showcase their toy and entertainment products. It is the best show EVER for those of you out there who want to meet the most informed buyers, wholesalers and retailers of children's books and toys. I am looking forward to it, although I am not much of a flyer. If you plan to attend this meeting, please let me know. I can't wait to meet as many interesting people in the toy/book industry as I can. 

As you can see to your right and below, are some of my adorable readers posing with their Dinamal stuffed dolls. They have been developed to go with the Discovery of the Dinamals - Using Our Imagination bpok series. We will be releasing these soon, so be on the look out! 

I must add that over the years, it has been an honor to read to thousands of children my book collection. Nothing brings me more pleasure than to see how content and happy they are as they read along and enjoy the music. I have an outstanding team of talented musicians who work closely with me to develop high quality material for our children to listen to. They make me very proud.

Also, check out where it says 'Catagories' under 'Letters from Readers' to the right of this. I would like to share a few very special letters from some of my readers. They are so adorable and mean the world to me. If it weren't for the reward and joy a child brings me seeing them so happy, I wouldn't have AAOW, Inc. Thank you, my friends!

Brenda McGrath