Review, Author Interview, Spotlight
Join us for this tour from Oct 12 to Dec 4, 2020!
Book Details
Book Title: In the Nick of Time by Deedee Cummings/illustrated by Charlene Mosley
Category: Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7), 28 pages
Genre: Children/ Holiday
Publisher: Make a Way Media
Release date: November 2019
Content Rating: G: Children’s Holiday Book
Book Description
A Timely Tale about a Little Brown Boy who Saves Christmas. Nick Saint never really put a lot of thought into his name until one snowy day in December when he accidentally receives a letter meant for Saint Nick. Realizing there is not much time left until Christmas, Nick opens the letter. The unexpected message inside ultimately leads him on a journey of understanding poverty, gratitude, and service to others while discovering the real meaning of the holiday spirit.
My Thoughts
In the Nick of Time conveys a message that many children and adults often need to be reminded of.
Though other books have brought about the message of giving rather than receiving, this one is a bit unique in that Nick is a little brown boy who helps make Christmas better for another family. The story allows the reader to explore thoughts regarding privilege as well as those who are experiencing hard times.
I love that it encourages discussions which might lead to helping others in various ways.
That being said, there were a few things that concerned me.
The first few pages felt disjointed and too lengthy. I’m not sure how it’s meant, but the first sentence caused me to reexamine who the publisher was.
“Thank God for Saturdays.”
Before the text on the first page ends, the word stupid is used.
For me, the story actually starts when Nick Saint gets a letter delivered in the mail that is addressed to Saint Nick. Though he tries to chase the mailman down to return it to him, it doesn’t happen.
Nick is quite unhappy that a letter was delivered incorrectly and that a video game he was expecting didn’t arrive. Again, a sentence is uttered that may or may not disturb some parents.
“Stupid mailman!”
He is corrected for his language by his mother, however, which helps.
When he opens the letter addressed to Saint Nick he discovers that Cooper’s family lost their home. His Christmas wish is for his mom to get a job and for his little brother to get a truck.
Yet Nick still doesn’t understand.
“I once heard my school principal tell a teacher that it was stupid to ask for things you know won’t happen.”
Nick soon decides that the signature on the letter, Cooper E., probably is a boy who goes to school with him.
And as you might guess, in time Nick’s heart softens and he is instrumental in helping this family. Which is a lesson geared for all ages.
The illustrations are well done and the bright colors feel very child friendly.
This beautiful book with a message for all will appeal to many.
My thanks to iReadBookTours and Deedee Cummings for a copy of this book and the opportunity to post a review and interview.
Amazon
Make a Way Media
Add to Goodreads
You May Also Want to Read
Book Details
Category: Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7), 32 pages
Genre: Children/ Holiday
Publisher: Make A Way Media
Release date: April 2019
Format available for review: print (USA and Canada), ebook (PDF)
Tour dates: Oct 12 to Dec 4, 2020
Content Rating: G. Children’s Holiday Book.
Book Description
A recent Purple Dragonfly Award First Place winner, Cummings uses bold and bright illustrations in This is the Earth to share a message of peace, love, respect, compassion, inclusion. Published in early 2019, the book’s message bears repeating: peace is meant for all of us and it is everyone’s responsibility to care for each other like the united family that we really are. This exceptional and timely book shares the reality that we are all sharing this world that we call home instead of acting as though each continent, each, country, and each neighborhood is like a completely different planet. Within the pages of This is the Earth, readers will discover thought and conversation-invoking concepts on issues and struggles that has our world at odds with each other. Kids and adults will love the lyrical message and thoughtful artwork that reinforces the fact that every human being is our neighbor on Planet Earth; a place also known as Home.
Amazon
Make a Way Media
Add to Goodreads
**Meet the Author/Interview
Deirdre “Deedee” Cummings believes literacy is a fundamental human right. She is the founder of Make A Way Media, It Pays to Read & the Louisville Book Festival, as well as, an attorney, therapist, and CEO of Abi Behavioral Health in Louisville, Kentucky. Abi is an intensive therapy agency that works to prevent the placement of children in out of home care, such as foster care, hospitalization, and incarceration. Deedee attended Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina, one of only two all-female Historically Black Colleges in the country. After graduating from Bennett, she earned a master’s degree and a law degree from the University of Louisville. All of her writing focuses on sharing inspiring messages that remind us all it is never too late to begin again. Deedee encourages the children she works with to write as a way to process emotions, document their journey, and express themselves more clearly. In addition to presenting on multiple topics around the country, Deedee donates hundreds of books and volunteer hours every year to families, children, churches and the local school system. She is excited to announce the launch of her tenth children’s book, This is the Earth. The inspiration for this book came from overwhelming negative media coverage about race relations in our country and across the world. This is the Earth is a book about peace, respect, and diversity inclusion: a message that must be heard and repeated often. She and her husband Anthony live in Louisville with their three children Kayla (an actress in New York), Anthony (a college student and athlete), and Nick (in elementary school).
*Interview*
How did you come up with the idea for In the Nick of Time?
My favorite holiday is also Christmas. We love everything about Christmas and we also, of course, celebrate the reason for the season. We love to decorate, baking different kinds of cookies, dancing to and singing Christmas music, picking out presents, wrapping gifts, cooking meals, and having lots of friends and family stop by.
One of our favorite family traditions is reading Christmas stories as a family. We read all kinds of Christmas stories like The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and The Polar Express, but we also love books with characters who look like us. One year it seemed that we had collected all the Christmas books with black characters. There just were no more to buy. Additionally, my favorite Christmas storyline is when a child gets to help Santa Clause save the day. I could not find that story at all with a black male character.
This is the story I wanted to tell for my son who was only ten years old at the time. I wanted him to see a Christmas story with a character who looked like him and who also got to save the day. My favorite review of the book comes from Nick who said that he loves this book “because it makes him feel like Christmas and (he) likes feeling like Christmas”.
Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
The majority of the stories I write about come from experiences I have had through my work as a therapist with children in foster care. There is something so disheartening about working alongside children who regularly experience such heartbreak. I wanted to write stories of hope and how to find hope even in your darkest hour.
What is your next project?
I am working on a series called Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess. It is loosely based on my daughter’s life who is a Broadway actress. There is a growing love of musical theater among kids and their families. This series is about a little girl who follows her dreams even when others have a different set of expectations for her. All of the books I have written, in addition to this series are very special to me because even still in 2020, a black child will have an easier time finding a book with an animal as a lead character than hey will finding a book with a character who looks like they do. It is important for me to write stories for children of diverse backgrounds and experiences because they deserve to feel their stories are important to the world too.
connect with the author: website ~ make a way media ~ twitter ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ facebook ~ pinterest ~ instagram ~ instagram ~ goodreads
Tour Schedule
Oct 12 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Oct 13 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Oct 13 – Working Mommy Journal – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Oct 14 – meandmybooks – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Oct 14 – Leels Loves Books – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Oct 14 – The Pen and Muse Book Reviews – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Oct 15 – Splashes of Joy – book review of In the Nick of Time / guest post / giveaway
Oct 15 – The Pen and Muse Book Reviews – book review of In the Nick of Time / author interview / giveaway
Oct 16 – Sefina Hawke’s Books – book spotlight
Oct 18 – Amy’s Booket List – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Oct 20 – Pick A Good Book – book review of In the Nick of Time / author interview / giveaway
Oct 21 – Splashes of Joy – book review of This is the Earth / author interview / giveaway
Oct 22 – Leels Loves Books – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Oct 26 – Books for Books – book spotlight
Oct 27 – Rajiv’s Reviews – book review of This is the Earth
Oct 28 – My Journey Back – book review of In the Nick of Time / author interview / giveaway
Oct 29 – Rajiv’s Reviews – book review of In the Nick of Time
Oct 30 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 3 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of In the Nick of Time / guest post / giveaway
Nov 4 – She Just Loves Books – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Nov 5 – Priya’s Lit Blog – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Nov 9 – Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Nov 10 –Priya’s Lit Blog – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Nov 11 – Ice Fairy’s Treasure Chest – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Nov 11 – Older & Smarter? – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Nov 12 – She Just Loves Books – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Nov 13 – Nighttime Reading Center – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Nov 16 – Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Nov 17 – Books and Zebras @jypsylynn – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Nov 18 – Ice Fairy’s Treasure Chest – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Nov 18 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Nov 19 – Books and Zebras @jypsylynn – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Nov 20 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Nov 20 – Bound 4 Escape – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Nov 20 – Writer with Wanderlust – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Nov 23 – Amy’s Booket List – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Nov 23 – Nighttime Reading Center – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Nov 23 – – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Nov 23 – Lisa-Queen of Random – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Nov 23 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Nov 24 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Nov 24 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Nov 24 – Lisa-Queen of Random – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Nov 25 – Older & Smarter? – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Nov 27 – A Mama’s Corner of the World – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Nov 27 – Reading is My Passion – book review of In the Nick of Time
Nov 30 – Cuzinlogic – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 30 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 30 – A Mama’s Corner of the World – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Nov 30 – Writer with Wanderlust – book review of In the Nick of Time / guest post /giveaway
Dec 1 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Dec 1 – I’d Rather Be At The Beach – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Dec 1 – Lisa’s Reading – book review of In the Nick of Time / giveaway
Dec 2 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Dec 3 – Bigreadersite – book review of In the Nick of Time
Dec 3 – Reading is My Passion – book review of This is the Earth
Dec 3 – Lisa’s Reading – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
Dec 4 – Bigreadersite – book review of This is the Earth
Dec 4 – I’d Rather Be At The Beach – book review of This is the Earth / giveaway
**Enter the Giveaway**
