Book Review: 'Frazier, the Very Special Cat' by Faye Rapoport DesPres

Based on a true story!

Frazier, the Very Special Cat is a sweet, heart-warming story for young children! It teaches love for animals, counting, the senses, and encourages discussion and problem-solving.

Frazier is a stray blond tabby not doing very well on his own, but things get worse when he gets hurt. Fortunately, the author is able to trap him and bring him to the vet. Now, all he needs is a permanent happy home...but who will want to take a chance on a one-eyed cat? Not to despair, for a fully happy ending awaits this sweet kitty!

Frazier, the Very Special Cat is Book 3 in the Stray Cat Stories series, and it is the perfect tale to read at bedtime or discuss with an adult in a home or school environment. The rhythm and repetition make it a fun read-aloud picture book. A charming addition to any child's cat bookshelf!

The book is available in Kindle, paperback and hardcover. Find out more and get your copy on Amazon. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Faye Rapoport DesPres is the author of the memoir-in-essays Message From a Blue Jay (Buddhapuss Ink, 2014) and the Stray Cat Stories Children’s Books Series (Writer’s Coffee Bar Press). She earned her MFA at the Solstice Creative Writing Program at Pine Manor College and has published creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry in a variety of literary journals. A life-long advocate for animals, wildlife, and the environment, Faye donates a portion of the proceeds from her children’s books to non-profit animal rescue organizations. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with her husband, Jean-Paul Des Pres, and their rescued cats.

Connect with Faye on the Web:

Website: www.fayerapoportdespres.com 

Twitter: @FayeRapoDesPres

Instagram: FayeInBoston

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100058817963789 

Follow the author on Amazon and receive updates of her new books in this series. 

Read an interview with the author at The Eccentric Bookaholic. 

Book Cover Junkie with Children's Author Faye Rapoport DesPres

A big elcome to children's author Faye Rapoport DesPres. Faye has published creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry in a variety of literary journals. A graduate of the Solstice MFA Creative Writing Program at Pine Manor College, she is the author of the memoir-in-essays Message From a Blue Jay and the Stray Cat Stories Children’s Book Series. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with her husband Jean-Paul and their rescued cats. Visit her at www.fayerapoportdespres.com.

In this post, the author shares her experience on the creation of the cover design for her latest children's picture book, Frazier: The Very Special Cat...

The cover of Frazier: The Very Special Cat was mutually designed by the publisher, MaryChris Bradley of Writer’s Coffee Bar Press, and illustrator Laurel McKinstry Petersen. As the author, I was given the chance to review the cover and offer my suggestions.

Because Frazier is third book in the Stray Cat Stories Series, we wanted the cover to be somewhat similar to the covers of the first two books. All of the book covers spotlight an illustration of the cats who star in the stories along with background touches that tell a little more of their tales so the image won’t be too bare. For the Frazier cover, to complement the large centered illustration of the cat, we added one of the toy mice seen in the book. 

Because the cats’ heartwarming tales are written to help children develop compassion for strays, we wanted the cover images to be endearing and sweet. We also wanted to be sure to make the illustrations and backgrounds colorful and inviting so they would interest and attract young readers. Of course, it was important that the images and colors stand out and be noticeable to parents or children who might see the covers online or on a bookstore shelf. Featuring the cats front and center looking straight out at the “audience” helps in that regard, as does the jaunty font.

It took a few tries until the illustration for Frazier’s cover was just right, as it was adapted from one of the interior drawings and needed a few tweaks to work for the cover. For example, the tail had to be re-drawn so it was pointing upwards and fully visible. 

In the end, the cats featured in the Stray Cat Stories books are so lovable, and the illustrations by Laurel McKinstry Petersen so charming, that the covers interest children and inspire a love for strays from the moment young readers hold the books in their hands.

Find out more about this delightful stray cat series at Amazon or the author's website. 

New release: Mama Graciela's Secret, by Mayra Calvani PLUS Goodreads Giveaway

Mamá Graciela’s Secret

Publication date: October 10, 2017

Written by Mayra Calvani

Illustrated by Sheila Fein


MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing

www.maclaren-cochranepublishing.com

36 pages, 3-7 year olds

Reading guide at: www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com

Description:

Mamá Graciela’s TENDER, CRUNCHY, SPICY bacalaítos fritos are the best in town...

Local customers (including stray cats!) come from all over the island to enjoy her secret recipe. But when the Inspector discovers that Mamá secretly caters to so many cats and he threatens to close her tiny restaurant, Mamá must come up with a plan to save it—and all of the animals she loves.

About the author:

Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her children's picture book, Frederico the Mouse Violinist was a finalist in the 2011 International Book Awards; her anthology Latina Authors and Their Muses was a First Place winner at the 2016 International Latino Book Awards; her nonfiction book, The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing, was a Foreword Best Book of the Year winner. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications like The Writer, Writer's Journal, Multicultural Review, Bloomsbury Review, and others.

She lives in Belgium with her husband of 30+ years, two wonderful kids, and her three beloved pets. When she's not writing, editing, reading or reviewing, she enjoys walking with her dog, traveling, and spending time with her family. www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com

Connect with the author:

https://www.facebook.com/Author-Mayra-Calvani-162383023775888/

https://twitter.com/mcalvani

https://www.instagram.com/mayracalvani

About the illustrator:

Born in Queens, New York and living in Los Angeles since 1987, Sheila Fein has always been inspired by the changing world around her. Earning her BA in Design from Buffalo State College of New York, her concentration was on drawing, painting, printmaking, and photography. Sheila's education as an artist has taken her everywhere from Fleisher Art Memorial in Philadelphia to Bath University in England. Today, Sheila Fein runs two figurative workshops, Imaginings Sketch in LA and People Sketchers in Thousand Oaks. She has been featured in numerous collections, magazines, books, solo and group exhibitions. Her paintings and drawings reside in public and private collections. Sheila loves to make the imagination of others a reality and has done so through her commissioned Fein Fantasy Portraits and Interactive Paintings. In addition to being a fine artist Sheila works as an illustrator. She just completed the book "Mama Graciela's Secret" for Maclaren-Cochrane Publishing.

Book info:

ISBN:
HC 978-1-365-86153-6

SC 978-1-365-86155-0

ISBN Dyslexic Font Version:

DY HC 978-1-365-86154-3 DY SC 978-1-365-86156-7

**This book also has version printed in the Dyslexic font, the typeface for people with dyslexia. Go to www.dyslexiefont.com to find out more about the typeface.

Suggested Retail Price - 17.99 Hardcover & 13.99 Softcover 40 % Discounted Price – 10.80 Hardcover & 8.40 Softcover

Available through - Ingram - Discount 40% Returnable – Yes

MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing – Discount 40% - Orders@maclaren-cochranepublishing.com Returnable – Yes

Publishing company Contact Info: MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing 1024 Iron Point Rd 100-1478 Folsom CA 95630

916-897-1670

Tannya@Maclaren-cochranepublishing.com www.maclaren-cochranepublishing.com

MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing 620 Buchanan Way, Folsom, CA 95630 916-897-1670 www.maclaren-cochranepublishing.com

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Mama Graciela's Secret

by Mayra Calvani

Giveaway ends December 31, 2017.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway