Sunday, October 17, 2010

Karen Cioffi's Day's End Lullaby

Day's End LullabyDay's End Lullaby
By Karen Cioffi and Robyn Feltman
BookSurge Publishing
Paperback: 28 pages, September 2, 2008, ISBN-13: 978-1419691577


Routine is the heart of any good sleep routine for young children, and reading a ‘wind-down’ story is perfect for that. It’s a moment of closeness and warmth that children take with them into the night and can provide the kind of security that not only leads to a good night’s sleep (every parent’s ideal), but to a broader sense of general security that underlies so much of the insecurity that comes with growing up. So a book that facilitates the end of day routine for young children like Day’s End Lullaby, is more powerful than the simple rhyming text and soft images might suggest. One of the things I like most about this storybook is that it ends with the text in sheet music – a song that you could sing to your child after reading the book and looking at the pictures. Sing it softly, in a voice that fades out towards the end, and a goodnight kiss is all you need to send your child off to a delicious slumber. The images themselves are in marker, crayon and acrylic, and effectively convey the transition between the high energy of day and the delicate rest of night. The use of rhyme, colour and music is perfectly proportioned, making this a lovely gift book for any young child.

Karen Cioffi is a published author, ghostwriter-for-hire, freelance writer, and reviewer. She is the creator and manager of VBT Writers on the Move (a marketing group of authors utilizing cross-promotion and a number of promotional strategies); co-moderator of a children’s critique group; on the team at DKV Writing 4 U (offers professional and affordable writing services, blog and basic website creation); and an acquisitions editor intern. More information about Karen can be found at her website: http://www.karencioffi.com

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Tommorow, Viriginia Grenier is hosting Margaret Fieland at her blog The Writing Mama. 
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12 comments:

  1. "Routine is the heart of any good sleep routine for young children"
    Karen, this is so very true. I raised both of my girls on this fact.
    Your book sounds like the perfect end to a busy day.
    Martha Swirzinski
    www.movementplus.com

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  2. I love the idea of a "wind down" story for children. This is the perfect bedtime story book!

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  3. Karen, I was just peeking at your book on Amazon (with the 'Look Inside' feature). What a great book! It's now on my list of things to buy my granddaughter!

    Maggie, thanks for sharing this with us!

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  4. Always love your reviews, Maggie. And love to know more about Karen. Did you know she is an editor, too?
    Best,
    Carolyn Howard-Johnson
    Blogging writers' resources at Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites pick www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com

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  5. Maggie, thank you so much for wonderful review! It is greatly appreciated.

    And, thank you also for featuring me today.

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  6. How true! Bedtime is a special time for parents and their little angels. It's a time of thanksgiving and wishes, comfort and love. I love Karen's book. It touched my heart and brought me back in time to the tender moments I spent with my children and grandchildren. It would make an excellent holiday gift this season!

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  7. I love Karen's book. It's so important for children to have a stable environment and reading to them is so reassuring. I don't sing, but suspect that singing is equally wonderful!

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  8. Hi, All,

    Thank you so much for stopping by and your kind words. It's funny, the original lullaby was created out of sheer exhaustion and necessity. My firstborn didn't like sleeping! :)

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  9. This book would make a wonderful Christmas present.

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  10. Maggie great post. Karen is an amazing woman and I can't figure out how she finds time to write with everything she does. But her book is really good so she's doing something right.

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  11. Hi, Janet and Virginia. Thanks for dropping by. I usually don't promote Day's End Lullaby, Id rather offer useful content, but with the holidays coming up I figure it's a good time. :)

    Thank you for your kind words; they are appreciated!

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  12. I always enjoyed bedtime stories. My girls are teens now so I miss that routine. Your book sounds like a winner. I adore that you placed a song at the end. Music can be so soothing. I'll add this book to my Christmas shopping list for friends.

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