J. Steven Spires Media Kit...“Three Little Shrimp,” by local author and educator J. Steven...
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112 N. Dabney Drive * Slidell, LA * 70458 * Tel: 985 2885535 * Fax: 985 6498105 * Email: [email protected] News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION: Kelsey Megilligan Literary Publicist 985.285.6768 [email protected] Local author’s children’s book teaches safety lesson, wins Mom’s Choice Award® SLIDELL, LA—“Three Little Shrimp,” a children’s picture book that aims to teach children the safety of staying with a group, has been named a Mom’s Choice Awards® Silver Recipient. “Three Little Shrimp,” by local author and educator J. Steven Spires and illustrated by Jonathan Caron, has been recognized as one of the best family-friendly media, products and services by the Mom’s Choice Awards®. Released in 2013 by Spires, in conjunction with Inspired Books Publishing, “Three Little Shrimp” tells the tale of three prawns who swim away from their troop in search of adventure. The three young shrimp find themselves in dangerous waters inhabited by unseen predators who are looking for a tasty meal. Woven into this tale of wandering shrimp and predators is a more important lesson in safety. Spires explains that children can become so mesmerized by the wonders around them that they put themselves in danger without knowing it. “My hopes are that sharing the three little shrimp’s adventure will inspire parents to have a question-and-answer dialogue with their children in a way that actively engages them in understanding, not only shrimp predators, but the need for parent supervision,” Spires said. J. Steven Spires is a veteran third grade teacher in Slidell, Louisiana. Although “Three Little Shrimp” is his first published book, J. Steven has been a writer most of his life. His love for writing has inspired over 400 elementary students in the 25 years he has been a teacher. He and his wife, Eve, reside in Slidell with their five children. The Mom’s Choice Awards® is a globally recognized program that evaluates products and services created for children and families. For additional information regarding the Mom’s Choice Awards® visit www.momschoiceawards.com. “Three Little Shrimp” is available online at http://jstevenspires.com or at select local bookstores. ###
Transcript of J. Steven Spires Media Kit...“Three Little Shrimp,” by local author and educator J. Steven...
112 N. Dabney Drive * Slidell, LA * 70458 * Tel: 985 288-‐5535 * Fax: 985 649-‐8105 * Email: [email protected]
News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION: Kelsey Megilligan Literary Publicist 985.285.6768 [email protected]
Local author’s children’s book teaches safety lesson, wins Mom’s Choice Award®
SLIDELL, LA—“Three Little Shrimp,” a children’s picture book that aims to teach children the safety of staying with a group, has been named a Mom’s Choice Awards® Silver Recipient. “Three Little Shrimp,” by local author and educator J. Steven Spires and illustrated by Jonathan Caron, has been recognized as one of the best family-friendly media, products and services by the Mom’s Choice Awards®. Released in 2013 by Spires, in conjunction with Inspired Books Publishing, “Three Little Shrimp” tells the tale of three prawns who swim away from their troop in search of adventure. The three young shrimp find themselves in dangerous waters inhabited by unseen predators who are looking for a tasty meal. Woven into this tale of wandering shrimp and predators is a more important lesson in safety. Spires explains that children can become so mesmerized by the wonders around them that they put themselves in danger without knowing it. “My hopes are that sharing the three little shrimp’s adventure will inspire parents to have a question-and-answer dialogue with their children in a way that actively engages them in understanding, not only shrimp predators, but the need for parent supervision,” Spires said.
J. Steven Spires is a veteran third grade teacher in Slidell, Louisiana. Although “Three Little Shrimp” is his first published book, J. Steven has been a writer most of his life. His love for writing has inspired over 400 elementary students in the 25 years he has been a teacher. He and his wife, Eve, reside in Slidell with their five children.
The Mom’s Choice Awards® is a globally recognized program that evaluates products and services created for children and families. For additional information regarding the Mom’s Choice Awards® visit www.momschoiceawards.com. “Three Little Shrimp” is available online at http://jstevenspires.com or at select local bookstores.
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112 N. Dabney Drive * Slidell, LA * 70458 * Tel: 985 288-‐5535 * Fax: 985 649-‐8105 * Email: [email protected]
Meet J. Steven Spires, Children’s Book Author
J. Steven Spires’ passion for adventure and storytelling began early in his life. As a child, Steve lived in Bangladesh where his parents, Joe and Mona Spires, were Christian missionaries. With a lack of modern childhood toys, Steve turned to one very special gift-his imagination. Whether he was fighting dragons or attacking the enemy, Steve would use any occasion to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Later on in life, this love for adventure influenced Steve to express himself through writing. After winning a writing contest in the seventh grade, Steve’s first published story was featured in the Sunday edition of the newspaper. Steve began his professional career in 2013 when Inspired Books Publishing published “Three Little Shrimp”-a children’s
picture book showcasing the wonder of childhood amidst a backdrop of lurking danger. Steve is the winner of the Mom’s Choice Award® and the 2014 Family Choice Award. He is currently working on his second children’s picture book “The Oak Tree” which is scheduled to release Summer 2015. Now married to the former Evelyne Berner, Steve and his wife have been blessed with five children (Steven, Jr., Chris, Andrew, Victoria and Ryan) who have been home schooled since they were young. Steve and his family still reside in the Camellia City, Slidell, Louisiana, where he has been an educator for more than 25 years.
112 N. Dabney Drive * Slidell, LA * 70458 * Tel: 985 288-‐5535 * Fax: 985 649-‐8105 * Email: [email protected]
Three Little Shrimp A Youthful “Tale” of Adventure
One fine day a troop of shrimp head off to the open sea. On the way three young shrimp, awestruck by the wonders around them, swim away from the safety of the group to explore.
The three young shrimp are unaware of the dangers lurking in water. For unseen predators watch as they play and swim right in front of them. Without the protection of the shrimp troop, the three little shrimp may become the next meal for one of these hungry meat-‐eaters.
Despite their best efforts, the predators are unable to catch the small brown prey. As the day comes to a close, the three shrimp rejoin their troop and together they swim to the sea bottom to sleep soundly on their sea beds. Praise for Three Little Shrimp “The Three Little Shrimp is an adventurous book that keeps readers of all ages engaged in the story plot! The repetitive phrase encourages choral reading. Each of the shrimp'ʹs personalities jump off of the page with the author'ʹs words and the artist'ʹs illustrations.”
—Mary Jane Smith, Principal at Honey Island Elementary in Slidell, LA
About the Author J. Steven “Steve” Spires first became interested in writing in 7th grade after a story he wrote was published in a local newspaper. His goal to become an author simmered as a “someday” dream while he taught third grade, married and helped to raise five children. Later, in 2005, Spires began writing again when a mandatory evacuation for Hurricane Katrina left he and his family stranded in north Mississippi for six weeks. Since that time Spires has written several children’s stories. Three Little Shrimp is his first published work since he was 13 years old.
Spires is a member of the New Orleans area SCBWI and resides in Slidell, LA with his wife and family.
Written by: J. Steven Spires
Illustrated by: Jonathan Caron
Publication Date: May, 2013 List Price: Hardcover $16.99 Paperback $10.99
ISBN: Hardcover 978-‐0-‐9858469-‐0-‐9 Paperback 978-‐0-‐9858469-‐1-‐6 Specs: Trade paper, 32 pp. Wholesale Orders: Direct from publisher
Retail Orders: Amazon.com Halfbay.com Website Local stores (check website for exact names and locations) Contact: Tel: (985) 288-‐5535 Email: [email protected]
For presentations, please contact Kelsey at [email protected] or 985.285.6768.
112 N. Dabney Drive * Slidell, LA * 70458 * Tel: 985 288-‐5535 * Fax: 985 649-‐8105 * Email: [email protected]
Publication Information
Title: THREE LITTLE SHRIMP
Author: J. Steven Spires Illustrator: Jonathan Caron Publisher: Inspired Books Publication date: May 2013 ISBN: 978 0 9858469 0 9 (hardcover) 978 0 9858469 1 6 (paperback) LCCN: 2013901356 Type: Children’s Picture Book Binding: Hardcover, paperback Cost: $16.99 hardcover, $10.99 paperback Reader age: 4 – 10 Pages: 32 Distribution channels: Inspired Books; others in progress Supplemental materials: 30-page activity book Merchandising items: imprinted mugs, tee shirts, pins, stickers, wristbands, mouse pads, bookmarks Book Signings: Kelsey Megilligan ([email protected]) World Rights: Available Short synopsis: One fine day a troop of shrimp head off to the open sea. On their way three little shrimp, mesmerized by the wonders they see, decide to swim away from the safety of the group to explore their surroundings. Without the protection of the shrimp troop, the three little shrimp may become the next meal for a hungry predator. Despite their best efforts, the predators are unable to catch the small prawns, who do not even realize they are being hunted. As the day comes to a close, the three shrimp rejoin their troop and together they swim to the sea bottom to sleep soundly on their sea beds.
Author biography: J. Steven Spires created his first stories as comic books while in elementary school. His first published story was printed in a newspaper after winning a writing contest in seventh grade. Steve has been a third grade teacher in his hometown for more than 25 years. He resides there with his wife, Eve, and his five children.
Illustrator biography: Jonathan Caron was 15 years old when he started this project and completed it as a 17 year old. Currently, he is an exchange student at an art school in Germany.
112 N. Dabney Drive * Slidell, LA * 70458 * Tel: 985 288-‐5535 * Fax: 985 649-‐8105 * Email: [email protected]
Book Reviews “… water and sea animal loving youngsters will enjoy participating in a read aloud session of Three Little Shrimp—all the while learning about the habitats of shrimp and the food that they eat. “
—The Children’s Book Review
“… a charming picture book about three little shrimp that swim to the sea, but get separated from their troop. They find themselves in a great venture with some scary sea creatures and a fisherman all who want to catch them, even eat them. What a great escapade!” -Judith Nasse, artist and writer “… a warm and delightful book for young children.” -Judith Addington, Author, The Big Little Book on Destiny
