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

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

The desired goal in my work is to focus primarily on finding unique but fun ways for a child to learn and enhance the key elements that are required to mature and strengthen their minds. Reading, language, vocabulary, communication skills, self esteem, confidence, creativity, and imagination, are such important things needed to learn and grow less stressfully from a child to a healthy and stable adult.

As a mother of four and the love I have for kids, I will continue to teach these things to the best of my knowledge and capability, for all of the precious little people who share our world.

When I was a child, I often felt the need to spend time with my parents as all children do.  Our parents and friends are so important to have, especially when we are young. I was very fortunate to have a stay home mom, but my father was always working to be able to provide for his family.

The memories I have of my father, Neal (Skip) McGrath, are much like how Skipper's friends felt in the story, Skipper the Wise Quacker - What?! When I create a story for children, I use memories and feelings as a way to relate and cope with the pain from my past or the present. This can be a healthy form of expression for anyone.  I encourage adults but particularly children to create as a strong coping and healing device for their mental development.

Each person in our lives has something to do with who we are as people. For some reason, we stick by the ones we love in the hope that one day they will value us as much as we value them.  If you look at a duck's natural instinct when he is with his companion, they are inseperable. So, wouldn't it be great if everyone had the instincts of a duck and stuck by one another?! That just might make our world an easier place to live.