10yrs in the making... and breathe!

It took ten years to complete The Ginormous Series picture books, a set of teaching tools for Children and Grown-ups. Tools that I wish I'd had as a single mum three decades ago.

I wasn't sure if I'd managed to capture the attention of Children and Grown-ups. I wasn't sure if they'd like my shabby-chic illustrations - if the messages were too much - if it was okay to use a family of animals as a gateway - if my sense of justice would sit well with children - in fact, I wasn't sure about any of it.

So, heart on sleeve, I jumped into a two week book tour with review bloggers and planted 20 books around my area as part of the 'Find A Book' initiative (where children find hidden books with their parents, read them, hide them again as a gift for the next child to find, and place messages and pictures on Facebook with their thoughts).

In at the deep end! It's been a frightening two weeks!

Having seen a lot of smiling Facebook faces and received the following reviews from the book tour, I can now breathe again. Phew!

AMAZON UK AMAZON USA DIGITAL STORES FACEBOOK

DEAR BOOK BLOGGERS

Oh my goodness! Am humbled by the courage you give.

Thank you for your time and words.

Know that you are an important cog in the world of publishing.

That you give authors courage for their next, and enable readers to discover new stories.

YOU ROCK!... (am shouting!)

SPECIAL THANKS TO

@rararesources @CarlaLoveToRead @Dough_nut81 @MsFelicia @dmmaguire391 @Sindhuharith @cats_herding @joycorkery @wall2wallbooks @PixyJazz @indeboekenkast @fanyf4335 @bookslifethings

SAMPLE REVIEWS

THE GINORMOUS SERIES by S C Cunningham

??? “WOW! I absolutely loved these books! Each story has something to teach, a lesson to learn. What a great teaching tool. The pictures are gorgeous! Fantastic series. Cute, fun, sad and sweet. All with a great lesson to be learned!"

??? "Young readers will enjoy reading about Jo and Vinnie, and parents will appreciate the subtle messages/lessons learned within the pages of the book."

??? "These books should be available in every home and school to come back to again and again, especially for young children due to important messages they give"

??? "A powerful message and winning illustrations make Ginormous Jo’s Silly Bullies a beautifully wrapped gift that will last a lifetime."

??? "The author does a great job in providing a way for parents to educate their children on important topics, and in a way that children will listen."

??? "This would be a wonderful story for children and could bring up talking points about feeling down on themselves. This story has a fantastic message, a great addition to any child’s shelves"

??? "Children of all ages will understand the benefits of liswat and enjoy the beautiful hand-drawn images of Jo and Vinnie."

??? "Ginormous Jo’s Secret is a Charming Children Picture Book that is Educational, Fun, Cute and Teaches Valuable Life Skills."

??? "Dealing with new additions to the family and saying aloud what you feel, it will resonate with young readers, giving rise to some interesting conversations."

??? "This is an adorable story about first impressions, misconceptions, and personalities. Its simple, easy wording allows for any young child to not only understand the story but to apply the lessons to themselves"

??? “The concept behind the book is great. I love the author’s way of storytelling. She clearly has a fantastic imagination to be able to bring it all to life so well!”

??? "It is a good story with an important message"

??? "Emphasizes prevailing over adversity, building positive self-esteem & the power of love. Stunning illustrations help make this read a must-have for any child’s library"

??? “The illustrations are absolutely exquisite!”

??? "A cute series that will appeal to kids and adults alike."

??? "A great story to help children who might be bullied at school or in the neighbourhood"

??? “Beautifully Illustrated, I wanted to reach in and give them a snuggle.”

??? “Beautifully Illustrated, Heart Warming Educational, Important Lessons. Highly Recommend! Educates children on embracing & accepting differences - body difference, skills, abilities, race, disability, gender, appearance, sexuality."

??? “I had to re-read passages not because they weren’t clear but because I got lost in the artwork! The beautiful full-page drawings in warm colors enhance the story and will mesmerize any child… and adult.”

??? “This is a great book to show children how to communicate to solve their problems and work through their feelings. It will make a great addition to any child’s home collection or teacher’s read-aloud library.”

??? “I enjoyed the message of this book, which is basically Don't judge a book by its cover. It's a good lesson for kids to learn early on. Be kind. Be friendly. Talk to someone and get to know them instead of being mean or ignoring them. You just never know; they might just be shy and need a friend to make them feel better.”

??? “An excellent plot twist that emphasizes prevailing over adversity, building positive self-esteem and the power of love. Stunning illustrations help make this read a must-have for any child’s library.”

??? "Educational, Fun, Cute and Teaches Valuable Life Skills."

??? “There is a very strong message and I quote from the book.... “It doesn’t matter what colour, age or breed he is (meaning Vinnie), or where he’s from. Clever animals know that family doesn’t just mean having the same parents. Family means looking after everyone that comes into your life, even if they only stay for a short while."

??? “A beautifully Illustrated Children's Picture Book that educates children about being kind, helpful, respectful, Looking out for each other then you will have good relationships with people.”

??? “I enjoyed them so much and cannot wait to share with my school class as part of PSHCE lessons.”