It is January already! We are back at our desks and enjoying working with authors again and catching up with what has been happening over the festive period. We have lots of exciting things coming up this year that we can’t wait to share with you- of course, lots of these are under wraps at the moment but we will be sharing them once we can!

Later this week, we will be sharing with you a very special announcement by a best-selling author… it’s all totally top secret right now but maybe you can guess who the author is? She has had one of her books turned into a television programme, she has written 14 novels and her previous novel was set in Brighton…

Already this year, we have had the pleasure of working with Helen Lacey on a new manuscript that she is working on. Helen, published her debut book Let’s Talk to Mummy’s Tummy last year and it is proving a big hit already. Helen’s new book is totally different to her previous one but we know it will be just as well-received as it’s very cleverly written with great creativity- you won’t have seen anything like it! We can’t wait to share it with you!

We have also been working with the award-winning illustrator Lucy Smith as we are teamed up with an author who is creating a series of books aimed to help raise awareness of the daily struggles of children who have special education needs. This series will hopefully help open up important conversations about children who struggle with everyday routines and also help to encourage children to be more supportive, kind and accepting when a classmate may not be the same as them. We have had a sneak preview of some of the illustrations which Lucy is working on and they’re incredible as usual and will really bring this already wonderful series to life.

Several other children’s authors have sent us their manuscripts and, as always, it is incredible to see the huge variety. Some are serious and have important messages, others are fun and silly with lots of laughs, others are activity-based and will spark creativity… there’s so much scope it is hugely inspiring to see. We love working with such diversity.

We are almost completely booked up now for this month and are taking submissions of manuscripts for February. Space is already being snapped up so we are encouraging authors to get in touch soon if they are hoping to work with us in February. We hope that all of our followers and readers have had a wonderful festive period and that 2019 brings lots of joy!

Enjoy a book with your child this Christmas

Here at Calico Editing Services, we are spoilt for choice right now. We have been working with so many amazing Children’s authors that our bookshelves are bulging with fabulous stories that we are lucky enough to enjoy. Our own children- aged 9 and 7, loved being able to devour these books and give us their opinions on them.

Reading with children is so important, it can provide you with that quiet time to devote to your child in an otherwise hectic week, it can help a child to relax, to open up about a subject, to use their imaginations, to learn about the world around them, to understand language and the importance of books and much, much more.

This Christmas, we are going to be enjoying spending some of our quiet days, snuggled up with our children enjoying some special stories. We hope that you will be doing so too and in case you’re not sure which books to snuggle up with this year, here are some of our Top Picks for Christmas 2018.

Cami Kangaroo Has Too Many Sweets- By Stacy. C Bauer. 
This is one of our personal favourites here as the main character- Cami- reminds us of our own little one! Have you ever had one of them days when you know there is something tasty in the house and it’s all you can think about? That cream cake waiting for you in the fridge? The box of chocolates you were saving for the weekend? It’s hard enough to resist these temptations as an adult, but what about a child? Cami has a very sweet tooth and she is constantly thinking about food. She can’t concentrate on playing or having fun as the thought of the brownies in the microwave or the sprinkles hidden in the kitchen cupboard, play on her mind. Will a trip to the dentist, a stern word from her Mum and having the treats hidden from her, be enough to stop Cami from sneaking sweet treats?!

This story is fun and engaging. It was exciting to turn the pages with our little ones and see what mischief Cami was up to and to laugh at the extremes she went to go hunt down the sweets. The illustrations really brought the story to life, they are beautiful pastel colours which our children enjoyed absorbing.

What we love about this story is that there’s an important message here about the effect sugar has on our health but it’s only very subtle- when reading it you don’t feel like you’re being lectured at, instead, we found ourselves laughing at the cheeky Kangaroo and how similar she was to our own little one. I think many children and parents will be able to relate to the Kangaroo family and enjoy reading it together. It’s a great starting point to open up a conversation about sweets being for treats and how they can affect our teeth too. We loved reading it together and can’t wait to see what other antics Cami gets up to in the future as I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of this cheeky, fun character just yet!

Available to order now: https://www.amazon.com/Cami-Kangaroo-Has-Many-Sweets/dp/0999814109

Little Elf Ray- Saves the Day by Ross Hammond.

Everyone needs a festive read at Christmas time and what better festive read than this from Ross Hammond? The story is fun, exciting, colourful and gets you fully immersed in the magic of Christmas! Santa is very excited about trying out his new sleigh and can’t wait to take it on a test-flight before he has to deliver all the gift to the girls and boys… but whilst on the test-flight, there’s a disaster and Santa turns to the smallest of all the elves for help… Little Elf Ray may be the smallest of all the elves, but when Santa needs his help on Christmas Eve, he is determined to help… but will he manage to?

My children and I love this book. It’s so colourful and fun and has that excitement of Christmas Eve tension which is just perfect for young children to enjoy. This book will definitely get you in the Christmas spirit with its festive pictures, magic and excitement, I can really imagine families sharing this book on together on the run up to Christmas and children falling asleep dreaming about what happens at the North Pole…

Available to order now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Elf-Ray-Saves-Day/dp/1999318706

Nonni’s Moon by Julia Inserro. 

We first read this book several months ago and it has stayed with us- if that isn’t the sign of a good book, then what is?! This story offers lots of hope and comfort for those who may not be with their loved ones this Christmas time (or any time of the year for that matter).

Beanie lives all the way across the world from her beloved Nonni. She misses her and wishes they could talk more. Then one day, whilst gazing out at the moon she has an incredible idea, what if there IS another way which she could communicate with her much-missed Nonni? What if it helps her to feel closer to her despite the physical distance between them?

What I love about this story is just how comforting it is. There may be many reasons why someone chooses to read this book- to help a child deal with grief and realising that a person is no longer in their lives physically, to help a child cope with separating with a family member or to aid a child to understand the distance between a friend and a loved one. This book really enables the conversation about missing someone to begin which can then help a child cope. It is brought to life with award-winning illustrations by Lucy Smith and when you finish this book you feel like there is hope, comfort and an important message to take away with you.

Available to order now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nonnis-Moon-Julia-Inserro-ebook/dp/B07CX91KN9

Puppy Pickup Day by April Cox

What child doesn’t enjoy a story about an adventurous little pup? This story is full of fun and tells of Brady who is a very cheeky, mischevious Labradoodle pup who gets himself into trouble by mistake! He is very excited because he is going to go to a new home today, but this is Brady, so going to a new home can’t be straightforward… before his new owners come to pick him up, Brady ends up having one last adventure which then turns into a bit more than he bargained for as, before he realises it, he is lost! Will he be able to find his way back home in time for the new owners to collect him? How will he ever find his way back?!

As well as being a fun story, this also touches upon some other issues too. Brady is clumsy and struggles to catch the ball, he feels insecure and worries about whether people will like him. The insecurities he feels are only very subtle within the story so it doesn’t take away from the fun-factor but it does provide you with a starting point to discuss emotions and worries with children too.

We really enjoyed reading this book and laughing at the clumsy way Brady bounds through life- anyone who has a Labradoodle will be able to relate to this pup! We are looking forward to hearing more from April Cox and her series of Labradoodle adventures.

Available to order now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/173245664X

Harvey Hippo and the Magical Caterpillar. By Samantha Ball. 

We enjoyed reading this book as it felt a little bit like a newer version of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The story tells of Harvey the Hippo who meets a curly caterpillar one day and wonders why it is eating so much. The caterpillar asks Harvey to go back and see its surprise a few days later, but when Harvey goes to find him he can’t see him anywhere. A few days later, Harvey watches a beautiful butterfly emerge from a chrysalis and wonders why it has the same, friendly face as that curly caterpillar he had met a few days ago…

My younger child- aged 7- enjoyed reading this and guessing what would happen. He was very impressed with himself when he was proven right too! He was really engaged with the book and it was wonderful to see him wanting to continue reading to see what would happen.

Illustrated by Samantha, as well as being written by her, this is a very gentle story which is an ideal read to enjoy with young children. The illustrations are very beautiful and super cute, with Harvey looking like a very friendly Hippo indeed. I’d like to read more about Harvey and what other adventures he has, too.

Available to order here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Harvey-Hippo-Magical-Caterpillar-Samantha/dp/1999605918

Celebrating the Holidays by Carolyn Valentine

Now, this is a very different kind of book, one which you will cherish and will fill up with meanings and memories, we simply HAD to include this within our Christmas recommended books.

This is a special, festive log book. Inside it is full of questions for children to fill in about how the holiday season was. It includes questions like what their favourite decoration was, what Christmas smelt like this year, what their favourite memories are and so forth. There is a double-page to fill in each year with all the same questions. The idea is that over time, it is filled in year after year and then as time goes by you are creating a unique book bursting with special Christmas memories that you can reflect upon. I can imagine this being the kind of book that is cherished within a family and is passed on from generation to generation.

It is a fantastic way to capture moments and memories. It encourages children to reflect upon the festive season and be mindful of the time they have had by thinking about the smells, sounds, tastes of Christmas. It will be incredibly special to look back on this and reminisce about certain memories and enjoy seeing how times change and which traditions stay within the family.

The questions are very simple and not at all daunting, children can answer in just a few words or elaborate and stick in pictures or drawings too so this is ideal for children of all ages. We absolutely love this book and are looking forward to filling it in each year.

Available to order here:https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1732935602

My Dog is the Tooth Fairy by Steven Viele. 

This rhyming book has beautiful hand-drawn illustrations which bring this story to life… a story about the wonder and magic surrounding the Tooth Fairy. Just how does the Tooth Fairy manage to know where to go and which teeth need collecting? How does she manage it night after night? What if there is more than one?

This story makes children think about the magical stories they are told- the Tooth Fairy, Father Christmas, The Easter Bunny… it’s a very simple but fun story which my youngest (aged 7) really enjoyed having read to him. The fact that it rhymes makes it very appealing to little ears and it also was a great way to get my little one attempting to read along too. When we reached the end of the book, he was pleased with the story and liked the magical side which suggests that maybe the Tooth Fairy isn’t exactly how we imagine her to be after all…

This book is only short so is the ideal read at bedtime when you are wanting your children to settle down and have something magical in their minds as they drift off to sleep. I like that it encourages children to use their imaginations and think a little bit deeper about something as simple as the Tooth Fairy but that, ultimately, it’s a fun, silly book which young children will really enjoy.

Available to order here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dog-Tooth-Fairy-Steven-Viele/dp/1732355002

We absolutely love reading with our children and think that at Christmas it is an ideal time to introduce them to new authors and stories which can be enjoyed together. There are so many books available and so many incredible authors that it was hard to whittle our choices for 2018 down to just these ones.

Sharing a story with a child can be a bonding, learning experience which can help to make memories, conversation starters and spark imaginations. We hope that whatever books you are reading with your children this year, that you enjoy them.

What books are you buying your little ones this Christmas? What do you recommend we share with our children?

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Wow what a busy month we have had!

During October, we have been working on a number of projects which have kept us very busy.

October has seen the publication of The Lost Daughter by Gill Paul. We helped this number one best-selling author with this novel when it was in its infancy by providing a beta-reading service. On Day 1, when it landed with us as a synopsis, we knew that it would be special and it has been very enjoyable to see this book develop and grow over the last 18 months. We have been providing author services during October to assist with publication marketing and have been marvelling at all the wonderful reviews that have been coming in. Here are a few:

“A brilliantly emotional read” Woman’s Own

“As rich in historical detail as it is captivating” Heatworld

“Deeply moving, but never without hope” Woman’s Weekly

“Gill Paul is a fabulous writer of historical fiction” My Weekly

As well as assisting with The Lost Daughter, we have been working on several edits of children’s books.

Several of these books are being published in November and we are very excited to see what readers will make of them as they are certainly very special. One of the books, by Helen Lacey, covers the very important prospect of a new sibling.

Let’s Talk to Mummy’s Tummy by Helen Lacey is a pregnancy companion. It is focussed towards young children and talks through the pregnancy journey on a week-by-week basis. It covers all kinds of potential issues which may arise- jealousy, sleepless nights, feeding, why Mummy’s tummy is growing and so forth. There are various interactive elements that come with the book too which make it a very special read that can be treasured. This book has already received excellent praise from professionals working within the maternity field and child mental health.

Another book we have been working on is a wonderful Christmas log book, designed to be completed after the festive period. It includes questions to fill in about the season; special memories, gifts, decorations and a page to be completed with drawings, photos, stories… whatever the child would like. This is designed to be added to each year so it will eventually become a book full of special festive memories that will be wonderful to look back on. We will be sure to share links and more information once it is available.

We have worked with lots of other children’s authors who are preparing books ready for publication next year. These include Andrea Stephens who is working towards a fantastic chapter book about a young girl attending military training, Lisa Styles who is creating a wonderful, magical story about toy bunnies that come to life and sneak out on adventures and Jon Hales whose rhyming book is fantastically written and aimed at helping children to be ambitious.

There are lots of other amazing authors who we have had the pleasure of working with this month (yes, I said we have been very busy!) and we will share information about their work and books once they become available.

The Lost Daughter, written by Gill Paul, has gained number 1 best-selling status in ‘historical fiction’. It is also in the top 250 of ALL paid-for Kindle reads. The sister book to The Lost Daughter was The Secret Wife and this hit number 1. We are excitedly watching this fantastic book climbing the charts.

This novel was published on the 18th October and the praise it is receiving is fantastic. We, along with Gill Paul, are delighted with the feedback that it is getting. Here are just a few of the quotes from various magazines, authors, bloggers and readers so far:

“A brilliantly emotional read” Woman’s Own

“Fascinating! Gill Paul captures this family and this period of history so vividly. Such a wonderful book.” Hazel Gaynor

“Gill Paul is a fabulous writer of historical fiction, taking true-life events and real people and giving them flesh, bones and spirit in a way no dull historical tome ever could.” My Weekly

Between book edits and running social media for our authors, we have the pleasure of receiving advance copies of books which we can enjoy. One of our main passions at Calico Editing Services, is reading with children. A lot of the books we work on are children’s books and we love working with authors who share our passion for encouraging children to enjoy books. When author April Cox sent us a copy of Puppy Pick Up Day we were delighted by its fun story, the mischievous main character and the bright illustrations.

Puppy Pick Up Day is the first in a series of books starring Brady the little Labradoodle Pup. In this first book we get introduced to this loveable pup- and who couldn’t love him?! He is full of fun!

It is the day that Brady and his litter-mates are being picked up by their new owners ready to go to their new homes. They are all very excited and go to play outside whilst they wait to be picked up. But Brady is clumsy and gets lost, whilst trying to find his way back, Brady meets various other animals who help him find his way and also ends up incredibly grubby…  will he find his way back home in time to get collected by his family? And if he does, will they even like him?

What we love about this story is that it opens up conversations about feelings and insecurities. The pup is worried about being accepted and being liked even though he isn’t as good at some things like his litter-mates; he struggles to catch a ball, he falls off the slide… the puppy being clumsy makes him appear fun and loveable but his worries about being accepted make him totally relatable. Children who have read this book have been encouraged to open up about their own insecurities and feelings and any book which has this effect gets a big thumbs up from us!

Although it may sound like this book is a heavy book- talking about feelings and insecurities- it really isn’t at all. The fun rhyme, little scraps that the pup gets involved in and the bright illustrations, gives this book a light-hearted lift, despite the subject matter of being insecure. It’s very cleverly put together to lift it like it does.

I think this would be an ideal book to read if you are getting a puppy, you can enjoy reading it with children as you look forward to the day that you are picking it up. You can point out that they can be hard work and silly at times and will need lots of looking after so they don’t get lost or need to be helped to be kept clean. It will also be a lovely read for any children going through changes who may be beginning to feel insecure- those in foster care may relate to some of the feelings this pup has or those beginning a new school. The book may help these children to open up and start a conversation about they feel about the new environment they are moving into.

It’s a fun read with an important message and Brady is such a lovable pup that we think this will be a very successful series; we certainly can’t wait to see what he gets up to once he settles into his new home!

It is currently available for pre-order now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Puppy-Pickup-Little-Labradoodle-Book-ebook