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FISCH TALES


ILLUSTRATION + INSPIRATION

005: 13 Children's Books with Good Vibes

6/21/2019

1 Comment

 
As I am deep in the middle of writing and illustrating my first children's book, I spend an insane amount of time reading and researching. It is the perfect excuse to throw in a load of laundry, snuggle with my three crazy children and feel incredibly productive.
​Have you ever found yourself at the library with your kids, looking for a worthwhile read but end up coming home with Ninja Turtles and (yet another) Disney Princess book?  Yep, me too. But not to worry, my friends! I have created a list of 13 exceptional children's books full of good vibes and beautiful illustrations. These titles encourage kindness, explain emotions, demonstrate love and boost self esteem. You're going to adore them, I promise. 

Be Kind by Pat Zietow Miller
1. Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller, Illustrated by Jen Hill

From asking the new girl to play to standing up for someone being bullied, this moving story explores what kindness is, and how any act, big or small, can make a difference―or at least help a friend. I love how it gives tangible examples on how to be kind. Be Kind is so genuine and sweet.
It is a lovely example of how two simple words can change the world. 



Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
2. Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Chrysanthemum is a funny and honest school story about teasing, self-esteem, and acceptance. Millions of copies have been sold. It is a rock solid picture book.

On a personal note, I think mean girls suck and pray that we can all learn to lift one another up instead of push each other down.

Dear Girl by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Paris Rosenthal, Illustrated by Holly Hatam
3. Dear Girl by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Paris Rosenthal, Illustrated by Holly Hatam

Dear Girl, is a remarkable love letter; a gentle reminder that girls are powerful, strong, and hold a valuable place in the world. It encourages us to always be ourselves and to love who we are—inside and out.
Any girl reading this book will feel that she's great just the way she is—whether she enjoys jumping in a muddy puddle, has a face full of freckles, or dances on table tops.

4. If I Could Keep You Little by Marianne Richmond
4. If I Could Keep You Little by Marianne Richmond

I have worked with Marianne Richmond and she is an absolute rockstar. If I Could Keep You Little speaks straight to every parent's heart, exploring that powerful feeling of wanting our children to grow up while savoring every moment.
"If I could keep you little,
I'd keep you close to me.
But then I'd miss you growing 
into who you're meant to be!"



5. In My Heart: A Book Of Feelings by Jo Witek, Illustrate by Christine Roussey
5. In My Heart: A Book Of Feelings by Jo Witek, Illustrate by Christine Roussey

Happiness, sadness, bravery, anger, shyness . . . our hearts can feel so many feelings! Some make us feel as light as a balloon, others as heavy as an elephant. My 4 year old, Loretta, is a perfect example of this rollercoaster. In My Heart explores a full range of emotions, describing how they feel physically, inside. With whimsical illustrations and an irresistible die-cut heart that extends through each spread, this unique feelings book is gorgeously packaged. 

Maple by Lori Nichols
6. Maple by Lori Nichols

Maple is an irresistible, free-spirited, nature-loving little girl who greets the changing seasons and a new sibling with arms wide open. This books explores different kinds of love and different kids of acceptance. I smile every time I read it and so will you. ;) 


Someday by Alison Meghee and Peter H. Reynolds
​7. Someday by Alison Meghee and Peter H. Reynolds

A mother's love leads to a mother's dream - every mother's dream - for her child to live life to its fullest. A deceptively simple, powerful ode to the potential of love and the potential in life. My mother bought me this book years before Josh and I started a family. At the time, it was the only children's book in our home. The sweet words of this story made me cry then and they still make me cry today.  

Spark: Story Bible
8. Spark: Story Bible 

Hands down the very best children's bible available.  It brings God's Word to life through colorful art and rich retellings of 150 of the most popular Bible stories. We received the Spark Story Bible as a gift from our church at Charlie's baptism in 2013. We still love reading it aloud and enjoy the activities and questions that keep our kids engaged with the text.

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell, Illustrated by David Catrow
9. Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell, Illustrated by David Catrow
​
I've learned to tell my kids, "Be yourself like Molly Lou Melon no matter what a bully may do."
​Molly Lou Melon is short and clumsy, has buck teeth, and has a voice that sounds like a bullfrog being squeezed by a boa constrictor. She doesn't mind. Her grandmother has always told her to walk proud, smile big, and sing loud, and she takes that advice to heart. 

The artwork in this book is the bomb dot com.


Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev, Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo
10. Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev, Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo

Pets come in all shapes and sizes, just like friends. Strictly No Elephants is a story of inclusion and helping others. It is uplifting, smart and holds the necessary message "All Are Welcome". 

On a side note, does anyone know where to get an adorable tiny elephant to keep as a pet? Asking for a friend...
​

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
11. The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld 

You guys, I am obsessed with this book. Whether you are reading it in wake of a tragedy or as an introduction to comforting others, The Rabbit Listened will soothe any broken heart. 
​

We're All Wonders by R.J. Palacio
12. We're All Wonders by R.J. Palacio

Have you read the Young Adult novel Wonder or watched the movie starring Julia Roberts? Of course you have! Well this book holds that same message of compassion but this time it is geared towards young children. We’re All Wonders may be Auggie’s story, but it taps into every kid's longing to belong, and to be seen for who they truly are. It’s the perfect way for you to talk about empathy and kindness with your family.

Wherever You Are, my love will find you by Nancy Tillman
13. Wherever You Are, my love will find you by Nancy Tillman

Love is the greatest gift we have to give our children. It's the one thing they can carry with them each and every day. You'll want to share this book with someone you love ASAP, no matter how near or far, young or old, they are. 

"I wanted you more than you'll ever know,
so I sent love to follow wherever you go"


Good Vibes
Books About Feelings
Books About Love
Chrysanthemum
Never Give A Child A Book You Wouldn't Read Yourself
Strictly No Elephants
Feel Brave
Nancy Tillman
Someday Book
The Rabbit Listened
We're All Wonders
Exceptional Children's Books
Be Kind
Stephen King
Self Esteem
Spark Story Bible
Maple Book
Marianne Richmond
1 Comment

004 THE SUNSHINE

6/12/2019

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I believe in the power of friendship. Kayla Axsom has been my friend for over 20 years. There are few things that she does not know about me and by the grace of God she still loves me. Yesterday, my daughter Loretta and I spent the afternoon creating a piece of art for our dear Kayla in memory of her beautiful mother, Laurie Petermeier. Laurie struggled with serious health issues for most of her life. A wonderfully warm, beautifully goofy and love-filled mama, she was a friend to many. Laurie is best represented by the sunshine; for she was known for letting her light shine everywhere she went.

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:16

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Today is my sweet girl's 4th birthday. She is a true artist and my mini-me. Loretta, I pray that you always know how amazing you are. I believe in you and love you so much. Keep shining your light... you are my sunshine.
​xoxo - mama 
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003: WHO DO YOU WANT TO SERVE?

6/10/2019

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-Did you know that we are all blessed with spiritual gifts? Did you also know that we should be using these gifts to serve others? It's true! Just ask my boy, Paul. He writes all about it in Romans 12: 4-6. You may find your gift through teaching, healing, missionary work, hospitality, knowledge, mercy, leadership or a handful of other ways. A spiritual gift is a God-given ability, distributed to Christians through the Holy Spirit. We are to use them to help others see Jesus through our works. They often work hand-in-hand with our natural talents. For example, my spiritual gift is encouragement being expressed through the vehicle of artistic talent.

For me, these gifts took years to recognize and I am still such a beautiful hot-mess-work-in-progress. I just know that the stronger I become in my faith, the stronger these gifts grow. In retrospect, it really is an amazing thing to watch unfold. My encouraging/artistic combo is what has lead me to write a children's book. It has helped me identify whom I am best equip to serve. In the world of sales, this can be translated into "Who Is Your Target Market". It doesn't really give you the warm fuzzies, does it? And in all fairness, I use that term when developing a brand for my accounts. It is simply asking, "Who are you trying to sell your product to?" From a business standpoint, you can find the answer to this question by asking the following 3 questions:
  1. What problem does your product or service solve?  Does it help calm an anxious pet? Does it make women feel beautiful? Does it help organizations garner more publicity?
  2. Who is most likely to have this problem? This is where you start breaking down who you should be focusing your marketing efforts on. Is it individuals, businesses or families?
  3. Are there different groups with different needs? There may be various market segments based on how they use your product or service. For example, a sporting goods store may help young families choose safe hockey equipment. Meanwhile a 60-something retiree may want advice on the latest white sneakers for speed walking with her lady friends. #lifegoals
From there you would break it down even further and get specific about what your product does and who typically needs help in that area of life. But when we are talking about a target market for your spiritual gifts, things look slightly different. You need to ask yourself, what has God clearly blessed me with and who am I drawn to help.
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Finding Your People

Let's break this down into 3 steps
  1. Identify your spiritual gift and your top 5 natural talents. As I stated earlier, my spiritual gift is encouragement. I love lifting people up and helping them see the positive side of things. (Note: Pessimists do not see this as a gift. But I am not a people pleaser, I am an encourager and there is a major difference. So, to all of the positive people in the world... you do you!) My top natural talents are: creativity, sensitivity, my artistic skillsets, a love for writing and I am a world-class hugger. Take a few minutes and evaluate yourself in this way. If nothing else, it a wonderful way to boost your moral for the day.
  2. Who are you drawn to help? Are you the awesomely strange lady who makes conversation with 3 year olds at Target? Do you love going to your grandmother's house to drink coffee and hear all about her favorite memories? Are you in the medical field? Are you a teacher? Do you love empowering women to follow their dreams? How you spend your time and who you spend it with can speak volumes about who God is nudging you to serve. Personally, I am the strange lady at Target making friends with toddlers. I am also drawn to families when they are going through something very difficult. I want to write them cards, paint them pictures and burn them CDs with inspiring tunes. (I am devastated that CDs are being phased out of our world. They are my love language.)
  3. Get more specific about this group, or groups of people. Is your future tribe made up of a certain demographic? Meaning are they defined in terms of gender, age, income level, education level or marital status? Or perhaps they are best categorized by their internal attitude and values. Maybe you can can narrow it down further by what life stage they are in, whether it is post-college, retirement, young parents, newly weds or children. 
Once you piece all of these elements together, you should be armed with a pretty clear understanding of who you should be serving with your spiritual gifts. You can now begin to create a life that allows for you to use your gifts to help others. Don't' look at it as yet another thing to do on your list. Look at it as a way to fulfill God's plan for you!

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Recently, I sat down with an extremely successful author/illustrator and we looked at my children's book in the big picture of life. Marianne Richmond encouraged me to really establish my target market for this book. She also challenged me to consider, "What is the purpose for this book?"
I explained to her that the past 2 years of my life have been spent heavily involved in a nonprofit organization. The INDY Foundation has introduced me to an abundance of families battling cancer. I want to equip these parents with a book that calms the heart of their little one after receiving a scary diagnosis. The library is full of books on this topic, but there are few that are done well (they often feel quite cold and disconnected).  I am going to use my spiritual gift to fill that gap with a picture book that is both encouraging and beautiful. 
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MY BOOK IS WRITTEN FOR:
  • Young Christian Families Facing a Serious Diagnosis (Not Specific to Cancer)
WHY WOULD IT BE HELPFUL FOR THEM:​
  • When a child, or their parent, is diagnosed with a serious health concern, there are so many questions and anxieties. The hope for this book is to help them lean not on their own understanding but to trust in the Lord and His angel army for comfort.

I know this is where God wants me to be and that is an incredible feeling. I hope you are able to find your own spiritual gift and your "target market" to make the world a better place. God made you YOU for a reason. 

Grace + Peace,
​Kate

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    Kate Fischer

    Author/Artist

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Delivering creative work with integrity since 2009.
Little Fisch specializes in collaborating with fellow small businesses. Through logo design, packaging, websites and marketing material, the goal is to create  brand identities that capture the attention of audiences on all platforms.

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