My recording of The Tale of Chirpy Cricket on sale on Audible!

My audio version of The Tale of Chirpy Cricket by Arthur Scott Bailey went on sale on Audible yesterday.  Here's the intro:

"Chirpy Cricket sleeps in his little hole in Farmer Green's farmyard all day but when night falls, he comes out of his hole and makes his music with other members of the cricket family. Chirpy calls the noise he makes with his legs "fiddling" and he loves to fiddle. When he isn't fiddling, he gathers grass to take back to his hole to eat. Chirpy also likes to visit other creatures on the farm such as Tommy Tree Cricket, Freddie Firefly, Mr. Cricket Frog and others. Arthur Scott Bailey wrote a number of children's books. This book is part of his Tuck-Me-In Tales series. Bailey managed to slip facts about the various creatures into his books without sounding "preachy" and incorporated science into his wonderful stories while still giving his characters distinct personalities."

This is a great chapter book for kids ages 5-7.   It should be linked to the Kindle version that I published (using over 30 of Duane's watercolor illustrations) in the Whispersync program soon.  When that happens, the audiobook will be drastically reduced in price if you purchase the Kindle version.  Great for immersion reading for beginners and children having difficulty reading.   I'll post here when the book is part of Whispersync.

In the mean time, you can check here to listen to a sample of the audiobook.

If you'd like to check out a preview of the Kindle version with Duane's drawings, go here.

 Here's a sneak preview of another of the characters from the book.  This is Timothy Turtle:

A Friday Estate Sale and A Recording Update

Friday morning Duane, Linda and I set out for the first estate sale we've hit since before the holidays.  This one was held in an older home in a part of town called Old Carrollwood.  It's a nice area that's centrally located in Tampa. 

The house was a pretty one and there was plenty of furniture and small items. 

Nice table.

We decided to all meet at the sale.  Even though we got there before it began at 9am, there were already cars lining both sides of the street.  Didn't have to wait long before we were allowed in, though.

Plenty of dinnerware and cookware.

There was some nice art but nothing that was really my taste.  I did end up buying a little barbell for my mother.  She goes to a cardiac rehab class three times a week.  In between, she's supposed to do lifts to strengthen her wrists and arms.  The cute little 2 pound green weight I found was perfect for her to use.

Plenty of silver and silver plate items

Linda was the only one who didn't buy anything.  Duane did really well.  The lady who had lived there had nice clothing that was barely worn.  Duane bought three of her blouses/jackets along with a couple of mugs that are the Delft-ware that she collects.  She also bought a tea towel and a box of unopened Christmas cards.  This person had a LOT of Christmas decorations.  One whole room of the sale was filled with boxes and boxes of them.

Of course, there are always things that kind of freak me out at some sales.  Behold the picture below.  All that's missing is that none of them are...  clowns!!!  Dolls and clowns are definitely not my thing.  Shudder. 

All those staring eyes...

After we checked out at the sale, we headed for coffee, treats and a chance to celebrate Duane's illustrations in the new edition of the children's classic The Tale of Chirpy Cricket by Arthur Scott Bailey.  Go, Duane! 

My handweight and Duane's items.

Duane's fashion finds.

On the audiobook front, my narration of The Tale of Chirpy Cricket is currently in post-production for Audible.  When it goes on sale, it will be in the Whispersync program linked to the Kindle book with Duane's illustrations.  I'll post here when that becomes available.  In the mean time, I've just begun production on a historical romance.  It's by Holly Bush and it's called Romancing Olive: Prairie Romance.  I'm really enjoying the story and hope future buyers will, too.

Phase one of the book project is out!

I've mentioned on here before that Duane is an artist.  Well, we decided that her talent could be put to good use by creating watercolor drawings for a Kindle version of a book that I was currently recording.  The Tale of Chirpy Cricket by Arthur Scott Bailey was originally published in 1920.  I had wanted to narrate some of his work because they're terrific books for kids.  Bailey never talked down to kids and managed to slip in some actual science and nature facts while still creating likable characters.

Duane got to work and the new edition with her watercolor drawings is now on sale on Amazon!   There are over 30 illustrations of the various characters now sprinkled throughout the book.  She decided that she wanted to make them less 'cartoon-like' and more realistic (with a bit of whimsy thrown in here and there) so that children could even use the drawings to help identify the crickets and other critters from the story in 'real-life.'  Here's the cover featuring, of course, Chirpy!
 

 

I hope to have the audio version up soon and have it in the Whispersync program with our Kindle version.  I love the idea of immersion reading for children -- particularly those still learning or possibly struggling with reading.   Duane's book can be purchased here on Amazon.  Once the audio version becomes available, it will be heavily discounted if you purchase or have purchased this Kindle version.  I'll leave it for now with another character from Duane's drawings.  Meet Kiddie Katydid!