2016 - Grateful for Aviva Gittle Publishing & "Gittle Top 10 List!"

Click here for more information about "Grammy's Color Rap"

Hi Everyone!

Today, I'm grateful for Aviva Gittle Publishing and the Gittle Top 10 Indie Children's Book Author's List.  

From "Grammy's Rockin' Color Rap-a-lcious Rap"

It's not easy being an "Indie Author," but folks like Aviva Gittle, and Inkspoke's Nelson Suit, are giving Indie Children's Book Authors opportunities to be recognized and appreciated. I am so grateful, and humbled that my children's story, Grammy's Rockin' Color Rap-a-lcious Rap was one of 10 independent authors to earn a 2015 Gittle List Award.  Thank you Aviva Gittle Publishing! You are so rockin'! 

Nicole Resele, illustrator
Grammy's Rockin' Color
Rap-a-licious Rap

I also want to thank Nicole Resele, 
the talented illustrator, who brought this funny little
 rhyme / rap to life with her adorable, 
humorous illustrations.  

"Grammy's Color Rap" on Amazon

More about Nikki:  Nikki is an educator and recently earned her master's degree in special education. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two kitties. She loves reading, photography, and spending time with her family, but drawing is her life-long passion and hobby. Nicole says, "It was a great honor to create this book with Mrs. Paglia, who was my former 4th grade teacher, and a dream come true to illustrate my first  children's book,  Grammy's Rockin' Color Rap-a-licous Rap .   

More about Aviva Gittle and "the Gittle List" ~ "Each year, the goal of The Gittle List is to find 10 great indie children’s picture books out of the thousands self-published.  Please check out all the the 2015 Gittle Top 10 List of Indie Children's Books.

Aviva Gittle of Gittle Publishing

AVIVA'S BOOK REVIEW:  #9 Grammy’s Rockin’ Color Rap-a-licious Rap, written by Rhonda Paglia and illustrated by Nicole Resele, is a fun way to teach children colors. Actually, it’s an hilarious way that the adults will enjoy as much as the kids. Indie author Rhonda Paglia starts off by teaching you the “BOOM Shee-boom-boom” beat. This should be especially fun for grandparents reading to their grandchildren. Nothing looks sillier to a 4-year-old than their granny or grampy “shee-boom-booming” their way through a book. Be sure to add a little shoulder shakin’ and pump up the volume. The learning continues with activities that ask children to “help grammy” by, for example, circling all the red things they see in a picture or matching all the rhyming pictures and words. Artist Nicole Resele clearly had a lot of fun creating grammy’s colorful outfits. A big step up from the standard (and boring) “yellow banana” “purple grape” books. A perfectly fine way to teach kids their colors, but not nearly as entertaining as Grammy’s Rockin’ Color Rap-a-licious Rap. 

Aviva Gittle writes and publishes children’s stories in English and Spanish. Her books are filled with beautiful illustrations from artists around the world. You can now order prints and mugs from all of theKitten and Friends books, Nana books, and more! Each year, Aviva runsThe Gittle List contest to support her fellow indie authors. Oh, she also loves children’s picture books and is always on the lookout for great ones. The 2016 Gittle List submission guidelines are due out in January. Follow @AvivaGittle and signup for Gittle News to be the first to know when they are posted.

2016 - a New Year and a time to be Grateful!

Hi Everyone!
Grammy Pags here.  2015 was so much fun!  It was a wonderful year with family, grandchildren, travel, and of course, books!

In the next few posts, I want to take a quick look back, share some exciting moments, and extend my deepest gratitude to some very special folks.

Grammy Pags Stories was blessed to have earned several wonderful, independent author book awards this year.

THANK YOU INKSPOKE for honoring Grammy Pags Stories
with an Inkspoke Select Book Award. I am so grateful!

I also want to thank my friend and talented illustrator, 

Ratna Kusuma Halim.  Ratna, this Inkspoke Award belongs to you too!
THANK YOU so much for the beautiful illustrations for

Three Little Gnomes and a Boy Named Orion. 

Three Little Gnomes was beautifully illustrated by Ratna Kusuma Halim.  

Inkspoke says this about the Inkspoke Select Book Award:
"The Inkspokes Select Books Award recognizes books that are not only well written but that, in their originality, passion and freshness, make us passionate about reading again. The authors of these books care deeply about their characters, their stories and their craft. At their best, they bring us a fresh way of looking at our world, they remind us of things that matter, small things and forgotten things also — and, with it all, they give to us wonderfully engaging characters and stories that we might share with our children and each other.  Our focus is on independently published and small press works and this list is meant to introduce the best of these – with all their wonder, spunk and diversity.  Our list begins with Children’s Books (and, for now, only goes up to middle grade). We hope to expand on this in the future."   
To read more about Inkspoke and to see all the winners, click here.

Ratna Kusuma Halim.

This is my friend and illustrator, Ratna.  She is the creator of the beautiful illustrations for "Three Little Gnomes and a Boy Named Orion."

Ratna lives in Indonesia with her husband and two daughters. She has a soft, sweet, warm, and lively artistic style.  Her illustrations begin as pencil sketches, which she then transfers to her computer.  She finishes her illustrations digitally.

The original sketch for the "Three Little
Gnomes" cover by Ratna.

Ratna has illustrated several e-books, including:  Daiku’s New Shirt, Nine Black Ants, Talitha Loves Her Neighbor, A Story about Two Boys, and Dragonfly and Damsefly.

Three Little Gnomes and a Boy Named Orion is the first book she illustrated to be available in print.  

To learn more about Ratna and her artwork, visit her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RatnasArtWork/

And her blog: Drawing of the Mind by Ratna

Thank you Inkspoke!  Thank you Ratna!  

My 2015 would not have been as wonderful without you!

Love, hugs, and much gratefulness!
From Rhonda Paglia ~ Grammy Pags Stories

P.S. Ratna and I have something special 
to share later in 2016!  Stay tuned for updates!!  

Happy New Year - 2016 - Honoring "Kindness Kids"

The Woozler, Sofie & Meeda say,
"May the force of a GREAT New Year be with YOU!"

Happy New Year everyone from Grammy Pags Stories & the Gang! 

Thank you so much for a wonderful 2015. I am so grateful for your support, your post shares, and for your kind reviews and comments about my "Grammy Pags Stories."

The "Gang" and I are so excited about 2016. We're looking forward to new adventures, new stories, and lots of fun!

Grammy's working on several new "Sofia Margaret, Meeda,  and Woozler" tales that we hope kids will enjoy!

Keep checking back here and be sure to check new posts on Grammy Pags Stories Webpage.

2016 ~ the Year of KINDNESS KIDs

Do YOU know a KIND KID?

Do you know a kid who deserves an AWARD?

Grammy's looking for special kids who deserve a "Kindness Award!" 

If you know a child who deserves an award, or one who is a "good deed doer," or a child who is helping to make the world a better place, please message Grammy Pags at grammypags1@gmail.com.  

Tell Grammy about your "Kindness Kid" and his or her good deeds.  Grammy will sign and forward you the "Color Us Kindness" certificate for you to share and color with your special "Kindness Kid!"

Kindness Kid Certificate - front

Kindness Kid Certificate - back

Merry Christmas from Grammy Pags Stories

Hi Everyone!
I just want to take this opportunity to thank you for a wonderful 2015!   I have appreciated all of your shares and tweets and retweets. Thank you for buying my books and for all the lovely reviews.  I am so grateful!  I hope you will keep following "Grammy Pags Stories" and continue to enjoy the silly little tales that I write.

The Gang and I wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a joyfilled, healthy, Happy New Year!

Love from Grammy Pags and the Gang

Grammy's most famous
Halloween costume -
the Christmas Tree Disaster!

P.S. Here's a little peek into the future:   Sofie and Meeda, of the "Meeda and Me" series are working on two new stories: "What's a Woozler?" and "How to Train your Woozler without getting in TROUBLE!"  The girls are attempting to learn more about the woozler who lives in their backyard.  Will they be successful?  Well, that remains to be seen!

Merry Christmas and Happiest of Holidays friends!

Be sure to check out our website!

Dec. 14 - 3rd Anniversary, Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy - Remembering

FREE FOR KINDLE~ December 11 - 15, 2015

KINDNESS MATTERS

December 14 is the 3rd anniversary of the tragedy at 

Sandy Hook [CT] Elementary School. 

"The Little Lambs and the Very Special Mission," is co-illustrated by student Taylor Galaska and author Rhonda Paglia.  It is dedicated to the children and teachers who lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012, 

and ALL victims of violence. 

The message of this sweet story: 

Follow the lambs' "BE" messages, and our whole world will be a better place.  

All profits from soft cover sales goes to the "Angels in Charge" Scholarship for kids from Newtown, CT who are planning a career in education. To date, $5,500.00 has been donated to the scholarship.

Background of "The Little Lambs and the Very Special Mission" and 2015 Scholarship announcements

2nd Anniversary - rmembering the victims of Sandy Hook

2014 Scholarhip recipients: Part 1

2014 Scholarship recipients: Part 2

Happy Thanksgiving 2015 + fun stuff + Grammy Pags Stories updates

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Here's some fun ~ happening now!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Merry Christmas, Woozler

by Rhonda Paglia

Giveaway ends December 10, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

I love Thanksgiving!  I love getting together with our extended family.  I look forward to our traditional Thanksgiving "feasta" with homemade pasta and sauce, turkey, stuffing, and lots of other delicious goodies!  I love it all, minus the extra pounds, of course!  I also love Thanksgiving because it's a reminder to reflect and to take some special quiet time to give thanks for all of my blessings.  

We live in a very challenging times.  Our world is changing everyday.  It is even more important to be thankful, to show appreciation to those around us, to love and hug our kids and grandkids, and to be an example of love, kindness, and caring in our world.  

So here's a simple "Grammy Pags" request this Thanksgiving:  

• take a little time to recount your blessing and give thanks for them
• in some little way, show your family and loved ones how much you value and appreciate them
• send some love and peace into the hearts of everyone on Earth    

Thank you!  I am grateful for you, and I wish you a very Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!

Now for a little fun!  Here's a repost of the silly little story I wrote last year for the Turkey Tale Challenge. 

As part of the challenge, facebook family and friends gave me a list of 62 words they wanted to see in a Thanksgiving story - no longer than 500 words.  

Here is word list:   family, turkey, pilgrims, John, Priscilla, Indian, stuffing, pumpkin, pie, yams, green beans, parades, napping, tofurkey, love, laughter, stuffing, feast, memories, cooking, cranberries, gobble, kids, bountiful, harvest, blessings, grateful, parade, football, glutton, nap, compost, leftovers, dish-washing, cleanup, warmth, gravy, crisp, sweet, savory, moist, center pieces, don't eat me, I stuff the turkey, then the turkey stuffs me, burp, fluffy mashed potatoes, seconds. volunteer soup kitchen, snow, November, sweet, kitchen, smells. 

I used them all!  Enjoy this little Turkey Tale repost! 

Written and Illustrated by Rhonda Paglia

A Grammy Pags Story ~ just for fun!

c. 2104

Thanksgiving today:  I stuff the turkey, then the turkey stuffs me!! BURP!!!!

But, perhaps the first Thanksgiving started like this . . . 

“GOBBLE, gobble, gobble!” 

“What was that?” wondered Mrs. Pricilla John.  She was cooking green beans, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pies.  Savory smells were coming from her kitchen.

It was November.  Snow had not yet begun to fly.  Laughter filled Pricilla’s ears.  Her kids were having a pilgrim and Indian parade.  Pricilla was so grateful for these memories, for her family, and for their blessings. 

“GOBBLE, gobble, gobble!”  

She heard the noise again. This time it was louder, closer!   “I’m hearing things,” thought Pricilla and she went back to her work.

The parade ended.  The kids started kicking the ball.  Football, they called it.  Mr. John, known as Papa, felt like a glutton.  The compost was waiting, but he just wanted to relax and take a nap.   He was glad the kids were outside.

Pricilla added marshmallows to the yams and stirred the gravy. She made fluffy mashed potatoes.

“Something’s missing for this feast,” she said to herself.  “I need something special; something crisp, sweet, warm, and moist.   Hmm, what should it be?”

 “Not me!” whispered the Gobbler.  His knobby knees were shaking and quaking with fear! 

Suddenly a package flew in the kitchen window and landed with a crash in the sink!  Dishes that needed washed and cleaned up flew in the air!   

“What’s this?”  Pricilla jumped, she was startled!  She picked up the dripping blob, turned it over, and wiped it off.  She peeked out the window.  Her kids were still playing.  Nothing seemed unusual. 

Pricilla carefully opened the package.  She was a little nervous!  Not too many packages landed in her sink! 

Inside was something white.  The label read, “Tofurkey.  Vegetarian product.  Made only with the finest organic soybeans and tofu.”

She took a sniff.  Not much to it.  “Beans,” she thought.   “Edible.”  Pricilla had an idea!  “This is it!” she said, “our main course!!” 

“Thank you,” she called to the mysterious package thrower. 

“Gobble, gobble, good!” thought the Gobbler.  

He shut his eyes and leaned tight against the cabin wall!

He heard Pricilla whack the tofurkey with great vigor!  His heart beat faster.  He heard the stuff sizzle in her frying pan.  He could smell the stuffing and cranberries and flavors mixing together.  

“Don’t eat me!” he thought.

Pricilla set the table and straightened the centerpiece. “Come and get it!” she called to her family.  “It’s a special feast!  No seconds or leftovers for the volunteer soup kitchen this night!”   

Papa John and the kids raced into the kitchen!  Delicious smells were everywhere.  The family gave thanks for their bountiful harvest.   “What a Thanksgiving Day!” said Papa.  “I think we should celebrate every year!”  And so it was!

“Gobble, gobble, PHEW!”  Mr. Turkey  backed slowly into the woods, safe for another year.  

One more thing I just have to share: 

Grammy Pags Stories has received 2 awards this fall!  I'm so excited! 

#1 - Inkspoke Select Book Award for Three Little Gnomes and a Boy Named Orion

#2 - Grammy's Rockin' Color Rap-a-licious Rap just received the 2015 Gittle List Top Ten Award & Review  from Aviva Gittle Publishing.  

That's it for now!  Happy Thanksgiving!      

Rhonda Paglia ~Grammy Pags
with her 5 grandchildren:
Sofie, Sylvan, Caleb,
Orion, and Rowan

This Blog is brought to you by Grammy Pags Stories

Rhonda Paglia is a children's author, a retired elementary teacher, and a "not so retired" grandmother from Pennsylvania. She and her husband have three grown children, five grandchildren, and a little Yorkie-poo named Bella.  "Grammy Pags," as she is called, enjoys gardening, tap dancing, yoga, playing the recorder, reading, and, of course, writing stories – especially for her grandkids!

Rhonda is the author of “The Little Lambs and the Very Special Mission,” “Three Little Gnomes and a Boy Named Orion,” “Doonsey’s Beach Adventure, the Great Rescue,” and “Duke ‘n’ Matt, Rescue Road Warriors,” her first non-fiction book.

E-mail:  grammypags1@gmail.com

Website:  Grammy Pags Stories

Amazon:  Grammy Pags on Amazon

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/grammypagsstories

Twitter: https://twitter.com/grammypags1

#Kidlit Goodreads Christmas Giveaway - 5 more hours!!

What are you giving YOUR Woozler for Christmas? 

Synopsis: Sofie and Meeda are excited! Christmas is coming and it’s time to get ready! The girls are having fun when Sofie starts to think about the woozler. The grouchy woozler lives in a hole under their apple tree in the backyard. It’s cold outside, the snow is falling, and Sofie’s worried. Will the woozler be okay? Do woozlers celebrate Christmas? Will he ever become friends with Sofie and Meeda? Well, Sofie and Meeda have a plan!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Merry Christmas, Woozler

by Rhonda Paglia

Giveaway ends December 10, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway