Posts Tagged ‘books for children’
- In: Books | guest posts | Inspiration | Writing
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I´m pleased to be a guest on Wanda Luthman´s blog where I talk about Why I Wrote Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action. Check it out.
Hello, everyone!
Welcome to Wanda Luthman’s Children’s Book Blog.
Today, I want to introduce to you one of my favorite children’s authors. I’ve known her virtually for several years now. Her name is Darlene Foster and she’s written a series of books on a girl named Amanda in the Amanda Travels series.
Darlene, please tell us about you and your inspiration for this book as well as the series…
Why I Wrote Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action
My interest in the country of Holland began when a teacher read us a book called, Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates, by Mary Mapes Dodge, which I loved. The book, written in 1865, by an author who had never been to Holland herself but heard stories about it from her Dutch neighbours.
Over the years I read other books that took place in Holland, many of them…
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- In: Books | reviews | Writing
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Attention authors of children´s books! A great place to showcase your work and get the word out. Many thanks to Sally Cronin for putting this together.
Welcome to the new Children’s Cafe and Bookstore where authors with books suitable for ages up to 12 can share their work and reviews.
It is very difficult to market and books at the current time without physical launches, particularly for children’s books with many in print versions only.
The authors with books suitable up to 12 years old will have separate entries for their children’s books in this new Cafe but will still retain their entries in the main bookstore with a selection of all books they may have.
Getting into the bookstore
If you are already an author in the bookstore then I will automatically share your children’s books in this directory.
If you are not already in the Cafe and Bookstore please email me with the following to sally.cronin@moyhill.com
- Link to Amazon for the book( and even if you have one book please set up an…
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Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore – Share an Extract from your Latest Book – #Children’s – Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action by Darlene Foster
Posted on: June 16, 2020
- In: Books | guest posts | reviews | Writing
- 15 Comments
Once again, the amazing Sally Cronin has been busy promoting other authors. She recently featured an extract and a great review for Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action on her blog. If you haven´t seen it, check it out. Thanks, Sally!!
Welcome to the series where authors in the Cafe and Bookstore an extract from their most recent book. If you are in the Cafe, and would like to participate you can find all the details here:Share an Extract
Today’s author is Darlene Foster sharing an extract from her most recent book in the Amanda travel series – Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action.
About Amanda in Holland
Amanda is in Holland to see the tulips with her best friend, Leah; as well as travelling the canals of Amsterdam, visiting Anne Frank House, checking out windmills and a wooden shoe factory, and taking pictures of the flowers of Keukenhof Gardens. She is keen to find out what happened to her great uncle who never returned from WWII and was declared missing in action. What she doesn’t expect to find and fall in love with is Joey, an abandoned puppy…
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Homeschooling With Amanda Travels
Posted on: May 7, 2020
- In: Books | Writing
- 63 Comments
One of my goals, when I started writing the Amanda Travels series, was to educate as well as entertain readers. So I am always delighted when I learn that parents are using my books for homeschooling. One parent even sent me her child’s work and reports. I was impressed with the lesson plans and projects, as well as the student’s answers.
Kegan, an eleven-year-old young man, admits he is not a keen reader but enjoys Amanda and her adventures. His mom told me she loved seeing his interest and attention to almost every detail which she hadn’t seen with any other books he’d read. Looking at his reports, I can see that he understood the idea of the story. I love it when kids get it!
Here are some of the worksheets and projects from his Language Arts class
For his first report he chose to read Amanda in Alberta: The Writing on the Stone because he is from Alberta and familiar with some of the sights in the story. He also plans to visit some of the other places mentioned.
He got 81% for his final mark. Which is excellent.
One of the projects was to write a letter to the author. This is what he wrote to me:
Dear Darlene,
I am doing a book report on your book, titled “Amanda in Alberta.” I liked it! My favourite part is the horse ride. I have been to many of these places, mostly with my dad in the semi-truck. Did you visit all of the places in your books? Can you make a book of ” Amanda in Iceland”? I think that would be awesome!
Thank you for writing these amazing books!
Sincerely,
Kegan
For his next book, he chose Amanda in Spain: The Girl in the Painting and got 83% as his final mark!
I always include a few more challenging words in the story to help increase the reader’s vocabulary. The words Kegan added to his vocabulary from this book were – monastery, boleros, distressed, dubious, spittoon, trance, alcove, apprehended. The teacher wrote, “It looks like this story was at the right reading level for you.”
I like how he described the characters.
Amanda – happy, determined, she does not listen to Leah, kind-hearted. An explorer.
Leah – helpful, loud scream, acting, kind-hearted. The tall one.
Dona – determined, kind, helpful, big heart. Loves her horse, Pedro.
He was required to summarize each chapter, which he did quite well, as well as predict what might happen at the end of each chapter. His predictions were 50% correct and 50% incorrect. The teacher wrote, “If your predictions were wrong, that means the writer was successful in her writing in order to keep you interested and surprised.”
I just heard from his mom that during lockdown, he has been reading Amanda in Holland for his current Language Arts class.
It makes me very happy to know that my books are being used in classrooms and for homeschooling. My goal has been accomplished.
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“Amanda” Has Terrific Adventures! Wednesday’s Bookmobile Has A Great Series Of Young Adult Books!
Posted on: April 2, 2020
- In: Books | guest posts
- 9 Comments
My books are being featured on John Rieber’s amazing blog! How exciting.
Join Amanda On A World Of Adventure!
Look at this terrific series of books written for middle-school aged minds – filled with mystery and wonder, all focused on one young girl who travels the world!
“Amanda” Has The Best Adventures!
Author Darlene Foster is an active voice on social media, and an accomplished writer as well, with a series of novels that share the worldwide adventures of 12 year old Amanda Ross!
This “Wednesday Bookmobile” highlights Foster’s series of novels featuring Amanda!
As Foster’s bio states:
Growing up on a ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, Darlene Foster dreamt of writing, travelling the world, and meeting interesting people. She also believed in making her dreams come true. It’s no surprise she’s now the award-winning author of Amanda Travels, a children’s adventure series featuring a spunky twelve-year-old who loves to travel to unique places. Readers of all ages enjoy following Amanda…
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My Interview on AllAuthor
Posted on: February 16, 2020
- In: Books | guest posts | Writing
- 61 Comments
Brought up on a ranch in southern Alberta, Darlene Foster dreamt of writing at the age of eight. When she was twelve, one of her stories was published in the local newspaper. It took her three years to write the first book. Darlene Foster’s books have an interesting and fast-paced story and include a huge amount of fascinating information. She loves writing for children. Read full interview…
I was delighted to be asked by AllAuthor for an Author Interview with Mady Joshi. I enjoy being part of AllAuthor as it is a great place to showcase your books. They provide great promo materials and gifs that are easy to create, even for someone not that technical.
Thank you for this interview, Mady! I enjoyed answering your great questions.
I hope you enjoyed my interview on AllAuthor and learned about a favourite childhood memory of mine as well as other things about me and my books.
Here are a couple of promo photos and gifs I have created with AllAuthor.
My favourite
Author Interview: Meet Darlene Foster on A Better World of Books #kidlit #childrensauthor #authorinterview
Posted on: December 12, 2019
- In: Books | Dreams | guest posts
- 13 Comments
I am honoured to be a guest on Alethea’s Better World of Books where we talk about how Amanda never gives up trying to make the world a better place and my dream for a “Better World”. Hop on over and check it out. You know you need a break from Christmas preparations!
Darlene Foster is a writer of children’s stories, a retired employment counsellor, an ESL tutor, a wife, mother and grandmother. Her grandson once gave her the nickname “super-mega-woman-supreme.” Darlene was brought up on a ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta, where she dreamt of traveling the world and meeting interesting people. Her book series for children follows the heroine Amanda Ross as she travels throughout the world and learns the history and culture of faraway places.
Darlene, thank you so much for being a guest on “A Better World of Books!” Please tells us a little about the inspiration for your character Amanda Ross.
Amanda Ross is the twelve-year-old I would have liked to be. I had a wonderful rural upbringing but my world was limited and I was bored. My grade three teacher taught us about faraway places which sparked my interest in traveling the world and…
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- In: Books | Food | guest posts
- 41 Comments
Today is my birthday and what better way to celebrate than sharing this article featuring Amanda talking about her adventures and sharing a couple of recipes! Check out this amazing blog where you will discover great recipes and interesting articles.
Meet Amanda from the Amanda Travels series who talks about her travels and shares favorite recipes.
HI! Amanda here.
Thanks for having me as a guest on your blog, Esme. You probably already know that I love traveling to interesting places. My curiosity gets me into trouble sometimes but I always meet interesting people and learn fascinating new things. What you maybe didn’t know is that I enjoy collecting recipes from the places I visit.
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- In: Books | reviews | Writing
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I am delighted at the response to Amanda’s latest adventure. Here is a wonderful review from Patricia Tilton on her blog Children’s Books Heal. Patricia reviews meaningful books for children and I am so pleased she has included Amanda in New Mexico. Check out her blog for great ideas for the young readers on your list.
Amanda in New Mexico: Ghosts in the Wind
Darlene Foster, Author
Central Avenue Publishing, Fiction, Oct. 1, 2017
Suitable for Ages: 9-12
Themes: Adventure, School trip, New Mexico, Haunted hotel, Ancient pueblo, Ghosts
Synopsis: Amanda Ross is on a school trip to Taos, New Mexico with several of her fellow creative students. She shares a room with Cleo, an anxious classmate who insists she see ghosts. Although Amanda is determined to prove there is no such things, she can’t seem to shake the feeling that something or someone is watching her.
Join Amanda, Cleo and their funny friend, Caleb, as they visit a rugged and beautiful landscape where a traditional hacienda, an ancient pueblo, and a haunted and spooky hotel all hold secrets to a wild and violent past.
Does Cleo really see ghosts? Can Amanda escape the eerie wind that follows her everywhere? Perhaps The Day of…
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- In: Books | reviews
- 37 Comments
I am back to my home in Spain after a fabulous time in Canada, promoting my latest book and visiting family and friends. I’ll write more about the trip soon. I came home to some pleasant surprises, including two very wonderful reviews for Amanda on the Danube by a couple of reviewers I admire.
The review by Patricia Tilton at Children’s Books Heal means a lot to me as I have much respect for the quality books Patricia chooses to review. Please check out her blog as you won’t be disappointed. I have often bought books for the young folks in my life based on her reviews.
Amanda on the Danube: The Sounds of Music by Darlene Foster
Darlene Foster has penned a lively adventure story for young readers who enjoy traveling and solving a good mystery. Fans of the Amanda Travels series won’t be disappointed with this fast-paced book which will keep them engaged and quickly turning pages to discover what happens next. Read more here
The second review is by a young man I admire. Erik at this kid reviews books has been reviewing books since he was nine and has reviewed all of the Amanda books. Getting a good review from a young person is always a treat! He is a bit older than the target audience now, but still enjoys Amanda and her adventures. Erik is always honest and extremely professional in his reviews. He has also given me great gift ideas.
Review! Amanda on the Danube by Darlene Foster
I really like this series. Ms. Foster has a neat way of writing that involves the adventure and intrigue of a mystery, but while also including information about real-life places. Read more here
Thank you, Patricia and Erik! Drop over to their blogs and leave a comment if you have a minute during this busy time. You may get some gift ideas.
