New Book Aims to Nurture Key Developmental Stage in Toddlers
Montreal, Canada, June 17, 2009 --(PR.com)-- As any parent of a young child knows, the dawning of the “who am I?” phase in toddlers is both remarkable and poignant. This crucial developmental stage can also be bewildering for children--a time of uncertainty about where the boundaries lie between “me” and “the world out there.”
These uncertainties can lead to unexpected parenting challenges. “My son had sleeping problems when he was three years old,” says children’s author David Clark. “He told me he was afraid his mouth would fall out if I turned the light off. Many children go through this transition period where they’re not quite convinced of the integrity of their own bodies.”
This growth stage—so key to shaping a child’s sense of well-being—is also when three-to-four-year-olds are first starting to explore the power of language.
David Clark’s new children’s book A Very Good Day for Turtles aims to nurture both aspects of this developmental learning phase, in playful language that owes equal parts to Dr. Seuss and Margaret Wise Brown.
The narrative takes the form of a curious origin story that poses the question: “Why don't turtles hurry anymore? They used to. In fact, they hurried everywhere they went …” It’s a deceptively simple question, and the tale takes more than one whimsical turn as a group of turtles tries to convince the world around them that they are, in fact, turtles.
With gorgeous full-color artwork, the book offers a compelling narrative for children—as well as the entrancing word-play and sense of rhythm that are so critical to stimulating developmental growth in toddlers. “When children play with language,” Clark explains, “they’re really working very hard to make sense of the world around them.”
A Very Good Day for Turtles also offers some tantalizing metaphors and riddles for parents. “After all,” Clark says, “it’s vital that bedtime stories appeal to parents too. If children sense that enthusiasm in you, it opens up a whole world of love for language, and eases the transition to the school years later on.”
“At that stage of psychological growth,” Clark says, “toddlers can occasionally become frustrated by their physical limitations. But I didn’t want to go down the same old ‘everyone’s-OK-in-a-special-way’ road,” he laughs. “I wanted a book that parents would enjoy too, that would stand up to night after night of reading.”
About the Author
David Clark has been writing, editing, and translating for over 15 years. He holds a degree in creative writing from Concordia University in Montreal (Canada). A Very Good Day for Turtles is his first children’s book.
A Very Good Day for Turtles
By David Clark, with illustrations by Claudia Gomez and Heather McLaughlin.
Children’s literature, 24 pages, full-color hardcover. Price: $26.55 (USD). For ages 3 and up.
Publisher: Lulu
On sale now at Amazon.com, or at http://www.lulu.com/content/hardcover-book/a-very-good-day-for-turtles/4853438.
To order a review copy, arrange author bookings, or obtain more information about this title, contact David Clark at +1 450-651-3988 or davidhamiltonclark@yahoo.com, or visit http://sites.google.com/site/averygooddayforturtles/.
###
These uncertainties can lead to unexpected parenting challenges. “My son had sleeping problems when he was three years old,” says children’s author David Clark. “He told me he was afraid his mouth would fall out if I turned the light off. Many children go through this transition period where they’re not quite convinced of the integrity of their own bodies.”
This growth stage—so key to shaping a child’s sense of well-being—is also when three-to-four-year-olds are first starting to explore the power of language.
David Clark’s new children’s book A Very Good Day for Turtles aims to nurture both aspects of this developmental learning phase, in playful language that owes equal parts to Dr. Seuss and Margaret Wise Brown.
The narrative takes the form of a curious origin story that poses the question: “Why don't turtles hurry anymore? They used to. In fact, they hurried everywhere they went …” It’s a deceptively simple question, and the tale takes more than one whimsical turn as a group of turtles tries to convince the world around them that they are, in fact, turtles.
With gorgeous full-color artwork, the book offers a compelling narrative for children—as well as the entrancing word-play and sense of rhythm that are so critical to stimulating developmental growth in toddlers. “When children play with language,” Clark explains, “they’re really working very hard to make sense of the world around them.”
A Very Good Day for Turtles also offers some tantalizing metaphors and riddles for parents. “After all,” Clark says, “it’s vital that bedtime stories appeal to parents too. If children sense that enthusiasm in you, it opens up a whole world of love for language, and eases the transition to the school years later on.”
“At that stage of psychological growth,” Clark says, “toddlers can occasionally become frustrated by their physical limitations. But I didn’t want to go down the same old ‘everyone’s-OK-in-a-special-way’ road,” he laughs. “I wanted a book that parents would enjoy too, that would stand up to night after night of reading.”
About the Author
David Clark has been writing, editing, and translating for over 15 years. He holds a degree in creative writing from Concordia University in Montreal (Canada). A Very Good Day for Turtles is his first children’s book.
A Very Good Day for Turtles
By David Clark, with illustrations by Claudia Gomez and Heather McLaughlin.
Children’s literature, 24 pages, full-color hardcover. Price: $26.55 (USD). For ages 3 and up.
Publisher: Lulu
On sale now at Amazon.com, or at http://www.lulu.com/content/hardcover-book/a-very-good-day-for-turtles/4853438.
To order a review copy, arrange author bookings, or obtain more information about this title, contact David Clark at +1 450-651-3988 or davidhamiltonclark@yahoo.com, or visit http://sites.google.com/site/averygooddayforturtles/.
###
Contact
David Clark
450-651-3988
http://sites.google.com/site/averygooddayforturtles/
450-651-3988
http://sites.google.com/site/averygooddayforturtles/
Contact
Categories