This month I am pleased to welcome back, my friend and marketing group member, Author Mona Voelkel. Mona tells us what inspired her to write her new book, Moon Choo-Choo: A Tale of Imagination and Sibling Adventurereleasing on May 30^th, 2024. And you will get a sneak peak of her cover and illustration by Nancy Kincade. 

Welcome, Mona: 

My new picture book, Moon Choo-Choo: A Tale of Imagination and Sibling Adventure, was inspired by my 2-year, old son, Brian. He’s now 32, but when he was young, he loved 3 things:

-the moon. (I think he said “moon” before he said “Mom.”)

-trains. (Brian and I would spend hours at the Pleasantville Train Station watching the trains as they pulled in and out of the station.)

But what Brian loved most of all was playing with his 2 older brothers, Kevin and Marty.

Brian’s 3 loves inspired me to write a story that would capture how my three boys would huddle up in the yard and ask each other, “What should we play today?” They would get together and devise these elaborate scenarios:

Sometimes they would be knights in a castle. 

Sometimes they would be basketball players in the NBA finals

But always they would just let their imaginations run wild and build on each other’s ideas.

With the story of Moon Choo-Choo, I wanted to capture the joy of siblings’ imaginative and collaborative play. In this story, a girl and her two younger brothers are inspired by their toy train to travel to the Moon. It’s a rhyming story for children ages 3-6 and is the perfect read aloud for home, school, and/or library. 

Book illustrations will be rendered in pencil and watercolor. I’ve seen some of the final spreads and they are so fun! I can’t wait for you to see them!

For extra fun, some copies of the book will come with a conductor’s hat, bandana, and a train whistle. I am doing some classroom visits and can’t wait to share this swag with some very special preschoolers! 

***Mona and Nancy have offered to do a giveaway: a signed bookplate, hat/bandana/whistle if they show proof of purchase. You may email Mona your proof of purchase at monavoelkel.com when the book is available on May 30^th, 2024

Mona Voelkel’s and Illustrator, Nancy Kincade’s new picture book, MOON CHOO-CHOO: A TALE OF IMAGINATION AND SIBLING ADVENTURE, will be released on May 30, 2024! Join us at 7:00 – 7:30 PM (EST) We will share our story and invite you to help us spread the word about MOON CHOO-CHOO by writing an honest review (Amazon, GoodReads, B&N), requesting at your local library, and/or purchasing our book. We’d love to see you there!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScoRk3M8T5lnfbtiNvwRMbPZloLwiknBXZC6ZWrGdMcU7GUdQ/viewform

Thank you, Mona, for stopping by and sharing your inspiration! 

Although Mona’s book is not yet available, I was lucky enough to get an advanced readers copy. Here is my book review:

Moon Choo Choo by Mona Voelkel is a wonderful story of a make-believe adventure that will captivate readers of all ages. With its themes of imagination, trains, friendship, and the moon, Moon Choo Choo weaves a delightful tale that is fun, creative, and meaningful. The author draws inspiration from her children when they were young, and now she shares this adventure with her grandchildren and readers alike. One of the book’s best aspects is the celebration of imagination as a powerful tool for childhood exploration and growth. The author beautifully captures the imagination of a child’s mind, inviting readers on a whimsical train ride that transports them to the moon. The journey through space to the moon instills a sense of discovery and magic. Moon Choo Choo is a charming and creative story that reminds us of the importance of our imagination when we dare to dream. Nancy Kincade’s illustrations are amazing. Her artwork features beautiful and captivating scenes that will resonate with children, inspiring them to dream and create their own adventures. These illustrations enhance the warmth and wonder of the story, entertaining all readers. 

My monthly book giveaway is Mona’s book. A random pick from my subscribers will be selected on May 15^th. Not a subscriber, and interested in a chance to win Mona’s book, please subscribe to leslieevatayloe.com.