Part memoir, part motivational guide, this is Ilana’s open and honest journey, from an angry confused child, knowing something was wrong, but not knowing what, to the ‘real’ her.
About Cerebral Palsy: ‘A Story’ Finding the Calm After the Storm
Born the second of premature twins, Ilana knew she was different from a young age, but for all the wrong reasons. Part memoir, part motivational guide, this is Ilana’s open and honest journey, from an angry confused child, knowing something was wrong, but not knowing what, to the ‘real’ her – a courageous woman using her experiences and lessons to create inspiring messages about mental and physical health, positivity, resilience and change.
“Living with cerebral palsy is enormously difficult. But what if you never knew you had it? This is the incredible story of Ilana Estelle. Born the second of premature twins, an hour apart, from a young age Ilana knew she was different, but for all the wrong reasons. A child of the 60s, Ilana experienced first-hand the way that disability was, so often brushed under the carpet, not spoken about. Her constant physical and mental struggles made her feel isolated, alone, frustrated, and misunderstood… and it took 46 years for her to find out why. Part memoir, part motivational guide, Cerebral Palsy: a story ‘Finding the Calm After The Storm’ is Ilana’s open and honest journey from an angry, confused child, knowing something was wrong, not knowing what was wrong, what her disability was, or that there was a diagnosis, to the ‘real’ her – a courageous woman using her experiences and lessons to create inspiring messages about mental and physical health, positivity, resilience and change.”
Ever wonder what your favorite lovey would do if you let them be in charge of playtime?
About That’s Coola, Tallulah!
Ever wonder what your favorite lovey would do if you let them be in charge of playtime?
Imagine being the fairiest of fairy princesses, the unicorniest unicorns or tea party hostesses with the mostesses. Seeing is believing in this carefree journey of freedom and fun featuring Stella Bella and her lively doll, Tallulah. They are inseparable playmates that get into all sorts of mischief. In the middle of the pair’s high jinks, Stella Bella’s conscience always leads her the right way until its tea time and the cookie jar gets broken. When Mommy discovers the mess, the two are separated. Will Stella Bella and Tallulah ever be able to play together again?
Our Thoughts
That’s Coola, Tallulah! is the fun story of a young, imaginative girl and her favourite best friend – her doll. Stella Bella and Tallulah go on some of the grandest adventures together and are as close as any two best friends can be (I am sure so many of us can relate to the bond that we have had or our child has had with a special character or stuffed animal). In this book, they are stuck inside for the day and must come up with their own fun adventures. And while their adventures are very fun, they are a bit mischievous and make the Mom in me say, “oh no – what a mess!”.
I loved how even though the pair were having fun, when Stella Bella realizes that they may have gone a bit too far in their fun, they work hard to fix their messes. Stella Bella will pause and let Tallulah know that they need to scrub, clean and fix whatever it is that they may have made a mess with. That is until they get caught breaking the cookie jar and they are separated for a bit.
We loved this adorable book. It was fun to read together, we had to laugh at everything these two got into. Some of the adventures these two get up to, I am sure your own child may have done at home. The book itself was easy to read and would be great for young children. Stella Bella has a beautiful imagination and I loved how this book brought her sense of wonder, fun and imagination to life. The illustrations were perfect and fit the character and magical fun of this book. This is a fun, creative and beautiful book that your child will love to read with you.
Cheryl was born in a small, modest town Manville, New Jersey. Her loving parents were Emil and Stella Hudock. Emil was a handsome, lively trombone player in a popular swing orchestra while Stella was a beautiful, young, junior model that appeared in the very first issue of SEVENTEEN Magazine. They were very supportive of their only child’s hopes and dreams.
As a young child, Cheryl loved playing with dolls and making people laugh. She loved mimicking different voices and putting on shows with her costumes from her dance classes.
Cheryl pursued acting in college at Brigham Young University and later in NYC at the Lee Strasburg Institute. Moving to Los Angeles, she decided to focus on a voice over career. She always had a unique young sounding voice. Cheryl has a wide vocal range allowing her to create little girls to little old ladies.
Being perseverant with many random voice jobs with the various animation studios in Hollywood, Cheryl managed to work her way up to become an award winning voice actress on the globally popular animated show Rugrats. In 2006 she received a WIN Award for Best Comedic Actress In An Animated Show. The Women’s Image Network promotes dimensional female media images and applaud film and television that advances the value of women and girls.
Cheryl cherishes the fact of being a part of such a celebrated global cartoon franchise. She regards being Angelica as a privilege and golden opportunity to give joy to the children and families of the world. The cartoon show allowed Cheryl many exciting experiences such as Rugrats getting a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, her character, Angelica being a guest on The Rosie O’Donnell Show, attending Rugrat movie premieres and even a Rugrat Live Stage Show.
She has collected tons of Rugrat merchandise that she would donate to young cancer patients in the hospital with a charity she was involved with called Famous Fone Friends.
Enjoying the notoriety of being on such a celebrated Nickelodeon animated show, Cheryl had other aspirations. She always wanted to write a children’s picture book. During high school, she excelled at creative writing and in college Cheryl started writing in journals. Lots of them!
Cheryl’s favorite children’s picture book is Polar The Titanic Bear by Daisy Corning Stone Spedden. This captivating story is told through the eyes of a young boy’s toy bear. It describes an American family’s travels in the Edwardian Era, culminating with their voyage on the famous Titanic.
Having the story told through the toy bear’s perspective inspired Cheryl to write her debut children’s picture book with this same approach. Cheryl’s book is entitled That’s Coola Tallulah. It’s a love story about the true friendship between Stella Bella and her favorite doll, Tallulah and the magical relationship that bonds them together at the heart. The story is told through the eyes of Tallulah.
Stella Bella and her lively doll, Tallulah are inseparable playmates that get into all sorts of mischief. The instigator is, of course, Tallulah. Stella Bella is always up for adventure and goes along with her fun loving doll’s desires. In the middle of the pair’s shenanigans, though, Stella Bella’s conscience always leads her the right way until its tea time and the cookie jar gets broken. When Mommy discovers the mess, uh oh, the two are separated. Will they ever be able to play together again?
Award winning voice actress Cheryl Chase gives life to the animated character, Angelica on Rugrats. Her debut children’s picture book, That’s Coola, Tallulah! is adorable as it is mischievous. This whimsical, wee tale of true friendship comes to dazzling life in Giulia Iacopini’s enchanting illustrations.
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
“This no-nonsense debut memoir recalls Corrigan’s two-time battle with cancer and takes a pragmatic approach toward guiding other patients. Candid, sagacious writing on illness and adaptation.” –Kirkus Reviews
About Again: Surviving Cancer Twice with Love and Lists
A breast cancer diagnosis at forty-nine forces Christine Shields Corrigan, a wife, mom, and meticulous list-maker, to confront her deepest fears of illness, death, and loss of control as she struggles to face cancer again. From the discovery of a “junky” cyst, to chemotherapy and surgery, sleepless nights filled with rosaries and “what ifs,” and shifting family dynamics, her adult experience mirrors her teen bout with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, with one exception—she no longer has parents keeping her in the dark.
With the ghosts of cancer past hovering around her, Chris falls into the same overprotective traps her taciturn Irish-Catholic parents created, striving to keep her family’s life “normal,” when it is anything but, and soldiering through on her own, until a neighbor’s unexpected advice and gift move her to accept others’ help. With fierce honesty, poignant reflection, and good humor, Chris shares a journey filled with sorrow, grace, forgiveness, and resilience, as she winds her way through cancer for the second time. Again offers practical guidance and hope to individuals that they have the strength to forge a path beyond a diagnosis.
Christine Shields Corrigan is a two-time cancer survivor, wife, mom, and author of Again: Surviving Cancer Twice with Love and Lists . In addition to Again , Chris has published a number of lyrical and practical essays where she gives voice to the beautiful ordinary. Her work about family, illness, writing, and resilient survivorship has appeared in anthologies, magazines, and other publications including, The Brevity Blog, Grown & Flown, Horn Pond Review, The Potato Soup Journal and Anthology, Purple Clover, Ravishly.com, Wildfire Magazine, and the Writer’s Circle 2 Anthology.
Chris’ essay, “Not Back to But Forward,” about how her cancer experiences helped her cope with COVID-19 is included in (Her)oics: Women’s Lived Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic (edited by Joanell Serra and Amy Roost), an anthology that draws together the stories of 52 women across the US during the Covid-19 pandemic (March 2021). A graduate of Manhattan College and Fordham University School of Law, Chris built a successful career as a labor and employment law attorney and as a legal writer and editor. After surviving cancer in midlife, Chris became a freelance writer. She also teaches creative nonfiction writing for an adult education program, provides writing workshops for cancer support groups, and is the chair of the programming committee of the Morristown Festival of Books. She lives in New Jersey with her family.
Pennies from Heaven teaches children that they are never too young to do great things for God.
About Pennies from Heaven
Based on the true-life events that led Koedi Nealy to start changing lives one penny at a time at the age of seven, “Pennies from Heaven” teaches children that they are never too young to do great things for God. Koedi’s journey culminated in forming a non-profit that currently serves the homeless population in Houston, Texas, helping the most overlooked and undervalued people in the community.
A native of Houston, Texas, Koedi Nealy is a senior at Cypress Christian School. She received her local minister’s license at the age of sixteen and is an active member of her school and community, holding leadership roles in various sports, drama, praise and worship groups, Thespian Society, and National Honor Society. She is the founder and president of Graced Ministry. She has not let dyslexia define or deter her as she advocates for others with learning differences through the NILD programing year.
Her journey takes her deep into the heart of the Away in pursuit of freedom for herself, her friends, and her community. Can she unravel the conspiracy before it’s too late?
About The Away
Sonia Peterson can’t help but be excited for the bright future ahead as she nears the end of her last year of high school. But she quickly discovers that things are not what they seem in the quiet community of Glendale. After her neighbor’s suicide and a slew of disappearances, Sonia’s friend Devon divulges one of the town’s best-kept secrets: at eighteen, residents are required to receive a serum that takes away their immoral impulses and imperfections, or they are exiled to a place called the Away. At first, Sonia can’t believe what she’s heard, but when her turn for the appointment comes, all of her worst fears are confirmed. Now, she must decide who she can trust and discover who is really at the core of the plot to rob Glendale’s residents of their elemental human nature. Her journey takes her deep into the heart of the Away in pursuit of freedom for herself, her friends, and her community. Can she unravel the conspiracy before it’s too late?
Cassandra DeJesus is a first-time author. The Away came to her in a dream so strongly that she felt she had to write it. Cassandra’s highest education is a high school diploma with some college credits. Cassandra has worked in many different fields but has never found her true calling. It was at Bay Shore High School where she met her high school sweetheart and now husband, John DeJesus. They have two beautiful children together. Today, Cassandra continues to remain a stay-at-home mother for her two children. You can connect with her on her website, Instagram and Facebook.
Disclosure: This is a spotlight tour, I did not receive compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.
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