Friends in the Meadow

We received notification from the publisher, AuthorHouse.com, that the book was completed and published and was already "live" in the internet bookstores. On to the next step!

July 3, 2009

The first press release was submitted and it reads:              

For Immediate Press Release

One Bird In The Hand And Two In The Bush

Birmingham, AL, USA. July 3, 2009 –– Just as our country has received another lesson that you can’t get something for nothing from today’s economy troubles, along comes a children’s book that says you can. The new book, Friends in the Meadow – Birds (978-1-4389-3386-3, Trade paperback, 40 pp, 8 1/2 x 11, $15.49 at AuthorHouse.com), introduces children to the hobby of bird watching. The book encourages parent involvement in the hobby, which gives the child a two fold or more benefit. The child learns a new and exciting hobby which can help build self esteem and becomes more involved with parents as they join in the fun, thus building a closer relationship.

Through a fictional story line involving bird characters, Lovie Dove, Fee Bee Chickadee, Reddy Cresty Cardinal, Bobby Bluebird and others, factual information is blended into the story so that children are able to enjoy the book and learn about the hobby of bird watching. The children are encouraged to begin a life list by identifying twenty birds. After completing this list, the parent or adult verifies the life list and completes a certificate to present to the child for their accomplishment (which is the last page of the book). Your child’s self esteem will begin to flourish.

This children’s book is different because it involves more than just reading the book or having the book read to the child. It has fifty photos of birds that catches any aged child’s attention and helps them begin to learn to identify birds. With just minimal involvement from the parent in the hobby, the parent-child relationship can grow to a new level. Many parents struggle to find common ground or a common interest in which they can interact more with their children. This hobby can start as young as age two and continue throughout adulthood. If the parent becomes involved, the parent and child will always have an enjoyable common interest and a closer relationship.

The author, Peggy Williams, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has worked twenty plus years with parents and children. Research for decades has shown that when a parent is involved with their children in school and spends quality time at home together, the child has a higher success rate overall. The chance of becoming a successful adult increases. The hobby of bird watching can even weave itself into the fabric of the whole family’s lifestyle offering many days of low cost fun and experiences for everyone.

Clichés aside, Friends in the Meadow – Birds, offers the child and parent much more than just one book to read.

Contact:  Peggy Williams, M.Ed., LPC

                 email:     peggywilliams09@yahoo.com

                 website: http://www.birdandnaturefriends-children.com

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 July 11-14, 2009

The book, Friends in the Meadow - Birds, will be on display at the American Library Association Annual Conference during July 11-14, 2009. This year this conference will be held in Chicago. The book will be featured in the childrens section and will be included in the show's Exhibit Catalog.

 July 16, 2009

 The second press release was distributed by i-Newswire.com. It was titled: Friends in the Meadow-Birds, A New Children's book Promoting Positive Parent-Child Relationships. This release introduced the book to the press and general public and contained much the same information as the one above. See the blog post for today.

 July 26,2009

As of  this date Friends in the Meadow - Birds, is now featured on it's page on Facebook, on Twitter, Flickr, on the shelf at Shelfari, and joined JacketFlap. The book has also been entered into the Best Books 2009 Awards that is sponsored by USA Book News.

August 7, 2009

See the blog post for today. "Characters in Friends in the Meadow-Birds". This entry shares the names and describes the characters that make up the story of The Friends in the Meadow-Birds book. It gives more insight into how bird watching is presented to young children in this book.

August 11, 2009

As of this date at least 29 online bookstores carry the book. JacketFlap.com and weRead.com posted information on the net  about the book. Thanks to JacketFLap and weRead for their support. Thanks also to the bookstores that choose to carry it. The support is very encouraging.

September 14, 2009  The first review has arrived!  Read it in the blog entry for today. Friends in the Meadow Book Review by Gregory Henderson. Thanks Gregory for your time and kind words!

September 15, 2009 The first community event took place today. The author visited J.E. Terry Elementary School. She shared The Friends in the Meadow-Birds book with the first grade class, Mrs. Jenny Limbaugh teacher. See the blog entry for this day to read the press release by I-Newswire, "Author Returns to the Classroom with Her New Book, Friends in the Meadow-Birds".

 September 17, 2009 Three new reviews are now on Amazon.com! See the blog entries to read the reviews. Thanks to K. Bird, C. Reba and M. Starhope for their time and nice words about Friends in the Meadow-Birds.

September 21, 2009 Newest review on Amazon.com written by Lisa Maddock. She is also on the book website Shelfari. See the blog entry for today to read her review or see it on Amazon.com. Thanks Lisa for the time and kind words.

Featured Author on The Reading Tub Site and the USA Book News Site. Both have the photo of the book. The Reading Tub also has an interviews and article about the book.

 January 2010 Friends in the Meadow - Birds was published on Smashwords as an E-book. It shortly will be available on Amazon for Kindles, Barnes & Noble for their Nook and other locations. It will be available for the Sony and other e-readers.

February 2010 Friends in the Meadow - Squirrels will be completed as far as the writing part. Then comes the publishing. Hopefully, it will be on the market by May 2010.