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The Magic of Falling into a Book |
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Author Alva Sachs, of Calabasas, reads one of her books to a room of captivated youngsters at the Camarillo Library at the 2nd Annual Children's World BookFest.
The event is meant to promote literacy and encourage families to "read early, aloud, and often."
Photo by IRIS SMOOT The Camarillo Acorn Newspaper |
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Stacie Theis from Beach Bound Books Interviews Alva |
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Circus Fever Reviewed by Stacie Theis of Beach Bound Books |
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Visiting Authors on the Streets of LA |
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Lazy Readers' Book Club features I'm 5 |
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 An educator, speaker and author, Dr. Danny Brassell has devoted his life to improving the literacy aptitudes and attitudes of thousands.
As teachers, parents or whatever state we find ourselves in, we often cannot find time to read for fun, and I think it is important that our children see us reading for pleasure. Therefore, each month I provide book recommendations that are quick and easy to read for personal pleasure. I try not to include any books over 250 pages, and I always include books written for a variety of ages (don't be shy about reading kids' books, though; they are my favorites because they generally have shorter chapters, bigger print and colorful pictures).
Alva is delighted to receive an endorsement from Danny for latest release. http://www.lazyreaders.com/  I’m 5 by Alva SachsDanny Says: Little ones who are eagerly anticipatingtheir first day of school will especially enjoy this charming book – with terrific illustrations by Patricia Krebs |
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Apostrophe Books Newsletter Feb 7th, 2012 |
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Apostrophe Books Authors and Illustrators Visit Apostrophe: A big, big, big THANK YOU to our participating authors and illustrators! The cold, windy weather forced the event inside our small store, and everyone responded to the cramped, chilly. conditions with humor and grace! |
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Lowell Students Spend Evening Learning With Authors |
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By Stephanie Minasian Staff Writer
The evening, sponsored by the Lowell Elementary Parent Teacher Association, brings established children's authors to the school to provide the students with workshops and the opportunity to meet the writers of their favorite books. "I think with all of the budget cuts, parents are looking for more creative ways to enrich their child's education - and this event does that," said co-chair Elizabeth Borsting. "We really have a great group of authors and illustrators this year." These authors and illustrators include the likes of Robin Preiss Glasser, who is the illustrator of the Fancy Nancy series, Lisa Yee, who has penned three American Girl books and Alva Sachs, who has published three children's books, alongside her illustrator Patricia Krebs. Sachs, who spent 16 years as an educator, said she is looking forward to her visit at Lowell, and hopes to promote interest in reading and writing at an early age. "I try to encourage them to realize that with writing, anything can become a story or a poem," Sachs said. "We will work together, collaborate, and share ideas and thoughts. I try to work with literacy as much as I can." After eating dinner, hosted by SuperMex, the children will be divided into six age groups, and then taught different techniques and activities with an author and illustrator at the workshops. One of Sachs' books, "I'm 5," tells the story of Julie, who celebrated her birthday with a big party, but when she is ready to start kindergarten, she discovers that school is not ready for her. "I'll be talking about learning how to wait for things, because Julie has to wait for school to start and she has this really fun birthday," Sachs added. "I would love to create a template for a workbook, and they do their writing and plan their perfect birthday party. They can create a guest list of who they want to invite, the best presents and what games they would play - things to make it special." The free event is open to Lowell students who have already preregistered, and will be hosted from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Students and parents will be able to purchase the author's books at the event through Apostrophe Books, or visit the bookstore between noon and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday for author signings. "I thought it would be nice to support a local business," Borsting said. "We can only accommodate 300 students and parents at the event itself, so half of school won't be able to attend, but they have an opportunity to meet the authors on Saturday as the general public." Apostrophe Books is located at 4712 Second St. For more information, visit www.apostrophebooks.net. |
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Conversations with Children's Book Author, Alva Sachs |
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Story from www.slimybookworm.com In Picture books for kids and the people who write them, I shared my experience at the orange county children's book festival and promised that I would be highlighting the notables. Alva Sachs happens to be one of those notables. She is a retired school teacher with decades of experience interacting with both young children and books for young children. She was very warm in person and extremely generous with her knowledge of the children literature and the publishing industry. I was so delighted when she agreed to be interviewed. 1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? I wrote every day with my students when I taught school. I guess once my own children got older I began thinking of all the fun I had in the classroom and began writing again. 2. How long does it take you to write a book? It can take as long as two years to write a book until you are really happy with the whole story. 3. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books? My ideas for my books come from my experience with children and I try to write about fun, imaginative, and creative experiences. 4. When did you write your first book and how old were you? My first book was written in 2008, I was 57 years old! How about that!!! 5. What do you like to do when you're not writing? I enjoy going to live theatre, music, dancing, reading, movies, and most of all spending time with my husband, and my three children. 6. How many books have you written? Which is your favorite? I have written three picture books, Circus Fever, I'm 5 and On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! I love all three of them and could not pick because that is like asking which one of your children do you love best? My illustrator, Patricia Krebs, has worked magic with my words with her illustrations. That is why I love all of the books we have done together. 7. What is your perspective on the present and the future of publishing industry from the view of a published author? As a published author, I am quite aware of the changes in the publishing industry and knew this would only be a matter of time given the world of technology. I feel we need to use the book world technology safely and intelligently, BUT I also feel holding a book in your hands with a child to read can not be replaced by any gadget. 8. What advice do you have for aspiring children's book authors? My advice for aspiring authors is to follow your passion, persevere, and find a way to get your stories out there. There is a multitude of opportunities. Be clear of your mission and learn as much as you can as you follow your journey. Alva, it was a pleasure meeting you. Thanks for insight and candid opinion. |
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Children's Book Author Visits Voorhis School |
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Sachs, the author of On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!, Circus Fever and I'm 5, read her stories to the primary students and led a writing session with the fourth and fifth graders. She explained about story boards, fun titles, colorful and interesting writing and the importance of writing a story with a hook to peak the readers' interest. "Writing is a great way to express your creative ideas," said Sachs. "It is also fun and I encourage you all to challenge yourselves and continue writing." The fourth and fifth graders broke into groups and were busy creating the beginning of a story based on a title Sachs gave to each group. The students did a great job coming up with interesting and fun introductions to their stories. "Our title is My Dog My Best Friend," said Andrew Alcantar, fourth grader. "We are writing our story about Spike the skating dog who does 360's on a skateboard." "I am good at drawing so I'll be the illustrator," said Leo Fajardo. "Jairo and Angel are good thinkers so they can think of ideas for our story and we will all work together to come up with the first paragraph," he added. Sachs was impressed with the creative writing talents of the groups who shared their introductory paragraphs. The author's visit was made possible by Voorhis' partnership with the Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) program, which provides free books to students each year. Published on the Mountain View School District website. |
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I'm 5 is a Finalist for the USA "Best Books 2011" Awards |
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USA
BOOK NEWS ANNOUNCES WINNERS AND FINALISTS OF
THE USA "BEST BOOKS 2011" AWARDS  Mainstream & Independent
Titles Score Top Honors in the 8th Annual USA "Best Books" Awards.
Simon & Schuster, St. Martin's Press, Random House, Penguin,
Harper Collins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, McGraw-Hill, John
Wiley & Sons and hundreds of Independent Houses contribute
to this year's Outstanding Competition!LOS ANGELES - USABookNews.com, the premiere online magazine and review website for mainstream and independent publishing houses, announced the winners and finalists of THE USA "BEST BOOKS 2011" AWARDS on November 1, 2011. Over 500 winners and finalists were announced in over 140 categories covering print, e-books, and audio books. Awards were presented for titles published in 2010 and 2011. Jeffrey Keen, President and CEO of USA Book News, said this year's contest yielded an unprecedented number of entries, which were then narrowed down to over 500 winners and finalists. Sachs and Krebs have both been recognized as award-winning authors for each of their children's picture books, which include Circus Fever and On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! The combination of writing and illustrations create imaginative, creative, and inspiring stories for children. "Being recognized by USA Book News as independent publisher and author is a highlight in my career," says Alva. Keen says of the awards, now in their ninth year, "The 2011 results represent a phenomenal mix of books from a wide array of publishers throughout the United States. With a full publicity and marketing campaign promoting the results of the USA 'Best Books' Awards, this year's winners, and finalists will gain additional media coverage for the upcoming holiday retail season." Winners and finalists traversed the publishing landscape: Simon & Schuster, St. Martin's Press, Random House, Penguin, Harper Collins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, McGraw-Hill, John Wiley & Sons and hundreds of independent houses contributed to this year's outstanding competition. Keen adds, "Our success begins with the enthusiastic participation of authors and publishers and continues with our distinguished panel of industry judges who bring to the table their extensive editorial, PR, marketing, and design expertise." USABookNews.com is an online publication providing coverage for books from mainstream and independent publishers to the world online community. JPX Media Group, in Los Angeles, California, is the parent company of USABookNews.com. A complete list of the winners and finalists of The USA "Best Books 2011" Awards are available online at www.USABookNews.com. |
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Sara Youngblood with Chicago Macaroni Kid Reviews I'm 5 |
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I LOVE to read and I love watching my son fall in love with books. He started preschool this week and I'm really enjoying watching him fall in love with school too. So I'm 5 by Alva Sachs was very timely for us. An Indie Excellence Book Awards Finalist, I'm 5 follows Julie who is very excited to start kindergarten. One problem--it's still summer! Julie had always heard that once she turned 5 she could go to school, so as soon as her birthday is over she grabs her backpack! But with one month of summer left, how can an impatient little girl make it? This is a very sweet book with adorable illustrations by Patricia Krebs. I really liked that the book showed a child excited for school. It helped us build the excitement for preschool at our house! The impatience of a child as time slowly crawls by was well expressed and Julie's enthusiasm once the big day finally arrived was great! Do you have a little one in your house who is ready for school even if school isn't quite ready for them? Or do you need help getting your kiddo excited about school? This book can help and the author, Alva Sachs, has kindly offered a book to one of my awesome Macaroni readers! |
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Creative
Child Magazine Awards I'm 5 as a |
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Creative Child Magazine has awarded I'm 5 as its 2011 Preferred Choice in the children's book category. Author, Alva Sachs, and illustrator, Patricia Krebs, are delighted to have been recognized by Creative Child Magazine. Preferred Choice is a prestigious award that is given to those products that exceed expectations based on the criteria for nurturing creativity and education in children. Creative Child Magazine is a bi-monthly publication that provides parents with the latest information on how to nurture their child's creativity and raise well-balanced children. The Creative Child Magazine's Awards Program is unique in that a panel of over 100 moms, educators and other professionals choose the award winners. These moms, educators, and early education professionals review all submitted products, the very people who purchase these products. I'm 5 is the third award-winning children's picture book by Sachs and Krebs. This follows their previous books, Circus Fever and On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! "Writing picture books for children that fosters imagination, communication and socialization helps to create a recipe for the love of reading," says Alva, a former elementary school educator and owner of her small press publishing company, Three Wishes Publishing Company. Creative Child Magazine officially announces all products submitted, including award winners on www.creativechild.com. All products submitted, are published in Creative Child Magazine's Big Holiday issue, distributed in early November. For more information on Creative Child's, award program visit www.creativechild.com. You can learn more about Alva Sachs by visiting www.alvasachs.com and Patricia Krebs at www.patriciakrebs.com.ar |
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Literacy Night Brings Out Hundreds of Families |
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 California author Alva Sachs reads her book "Circus Fever" to children Tuesday night at Philo High School. Written by Holly Richards, Staff
Writer at the Zanesville
Times Recorder
PHILO -- Hundreds of families want their children to experience
the power and the pleasure of reading.Almost 800 people from 350 families with children in the Franklin Local School District were drawn to a big top for an evening of entertainment and education. The district conducted its first districtwide family literacy night Tuesday at Philo High School. "Before this there were separate events in each building," said Linda Friel, district literacy specialist. "We've been doing that for years, but we wanted to do something new to bring everyone together." "We wanted to bring the families of students together to promote a love of reading, especially within the family," said Mary Brown, fellow literacy specialist. "Our goal is to get books in the hands of children and let them know they can read for pleasure and for information." Each year, the district hosts literacy efforts through Title I federal funding, monies set aside for parent involvement, and teacher donations of items and time. Parents who attend upcoming parent-teacher conferences will be asked how the event affected their families as a way to follow-up with the literacy efforts. Past events have included various fun-filled themes to get children more involved in the process. This year's circus theme featured a variety of activities that not only addressed reading, but all subjects including math, science, social studies, technology, physical education and the arts. The main event was a visit from California author Alva Sachs, who was on hand to read and sign copies of her book "Circus Fever." "I can't put into words what it's like to see so many people coming together for the community and children," she said. "This is an experience I've never had," Sachs said. "I taught for 16 years, and everything I've done since then has come full circle," she said. "I started writing four years ago and have published three award-winning books. It's a joy to write, but I never expected it to happen, it just did. I think it's important to remember the child in you and never let that go; life can be so much more rewarding." Based on the district's 2010-11 Report Card from the Ohio Department of Education, achievement is about par with state averages, but the district is undeterred in its effort to improve scores and provide the best education for its students. Brown said the district eagerly included Sachs in the event to leave a lasting impression on children. "We want to show that readers are leaders and successful people," she said. "Her book shows the power of imagination and creativity." Creativity was in the air as participants and attendants dressed up and got into the spirit of the event. While the school was full of students, many more participated as volunteers. "My daughter, Kelsey, has been to every one of these," Pam Winters said. "She's in eighth grade and is volunteering now. She reads a lot. This is something that helps kids with reading and gets them involved in school, and I hope they keep doing this." |
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Books & Cookies
Event Review |
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SO... I hereby decree that the first lines placed on these pages are unimportant... unloading the pressure that is stacked on top of my drawing pencils and markers! Event's like tomorrow's Local Story-Time take place the last Friday of every month. This gives the local authors a chance to connect with their readers and it give our kids the opportunity to meet those special people that write the books that they read everyday. |
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Barnes & Noble Fundraiser for Valley Women's Center |
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Valley News Group Valley Entertainment
Guide, August 4, 2011
A special book drive and reading was held at Barnes & Noble at the Calabasas Commons to benefit Valley Women's Center. Patrons have been buying books to donate to the center for the last month. Over 300 books were collected and were distributed to children last Saturday, when two local authors read their books to the children in the store. The book drive will continue through August - go in and buy a book for a worthy cause! Valley Women's Center is a west valley non-profit dedicated to helping women and children at risk for drugs, alcohol and other threats to family stability.
Award-winning children's author and west valley resident Alva Sachs reads to children of clients from Valley Women's Center. Sachs is the author of the newly published I'm Five. Her previous books include Circus Fever and On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! A former teacher, she based her books on her own children and their experiences. |
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Calabasas Patch Interviews Alva About I'm 5 |
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 A
former school teacher talks about her foray into book writing,
self-publishing and how fate conspired to bring them all together.The concepts of her books come to her in her dreams and during seemingly routine moments. Call it happenstance or kismet, but they have played a major part in the birth of her books and it always plays out that way. "It's never forced or rushed," said Alva Sachs, a children's book author who just released I'm 5, her third children's book. From teaching to writing The Calabasas resident was an elementary school teacher for 16 years before making the shift to full-time motherhood and eventually to children's book writing. "Even when I was teaching, I put such a huge emphasis on writing," said Sachs who has a bachelor's and a master's degree in elementary education.  Born and raised in Chicago, Sachs enjoys mentoring children and instilling a love for writing in them. A series of events to promote her new book aims to do just that. This Saturday, Sachs will be reading I'm 5 to children at the Calabasas Library from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. On July 30, she will be at the Barnes & Noble at the Calabasas Commons from noon to 2 p.m. for another fun afternoon of reading and other activities. Tributes to children Her three grown children have long been out of school, but she keeps them "alive" in her books. "My books are tributes to my children, but they're not necessarily about them," said Sachs. Daughter Jessica is a character in Circus Fever, Sachs' first book about the power of imagination and the surprises that await children under the circus' big top. Released in 2008, Circus Fever received several awards including a 2009 Seal of Excellence from Creative Child Magazine and the 2010 Eric Hoffer Award for excellence in small press publishing. In her second book, Sachs' only son Justin is one of the main characters. On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! is about three boys who like to hang out on Saturdays. Like the first one, On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! received nods from award-giving bodies such as the National Indie Excellence Awards and the International Book Awards when it came out in 2009.  Her
latest book, I'm 5 is all about that magical age and
the transition into the "big school." Once again, Julie, Sachs'
other daughter, is the main character in this book."This idea just came to me while sitting in a conference," said Sachs. "This concept of a child turning five really just dropped out of nowhere." Determination Sachs decided to take the self-publishing route and put up her own publishing firm called Three Wishes Publishing Company. "It's a highly competitive industry and most publishers will not even look at unsolicited manuscripts," she said, describing the situation facing first-time authors. "I was also older, not notorious and definitely not a celebrity," she said, detailing why she does not fit the typical mold of authors who land instant book deals. Extremely motivated, Sachs willingly navigated the unfamiliar waters of self-publishing. "I knew nothing aside from writing and getting books into the hands of children, but I was highly determined to learn all I could about publishing," she said. The same level of determination has propelled Sachs to give back and continue putting books into the hands of children. She joined the board of Reading is Fundamental, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for underserved children in the L.A. area. Serendipity On her website, Sachs attributes a large portion of her life to serendipity or those unplanned events and discoveries followed by good fortune. It was serendipity that led her to become a teacher, meet her husband and cross paths with Patricia Krebs, the illustrator of her three books. "We met at the Calabasas Pumpkin Festival, believe it or not," said Sachs, who has been collaborating with Krebs since their serendipitous meeting four years ago. While her first three books were born out of serendipitous moments, Sachs remains mum about her next ones. "All I can say is there are no people in it and they're not coming out this year," she said, as she immerses herself again in her writing. |
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Alva Sachs Honored by National Indie Excellence Awards Contest Recognizes Outstanding Independently Published Books |
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 Three Wishes Publishing Company 26500 West Agoura Road Suite 102-754 Calabasas, CA 91302 818.878.0902 Calabasas, CA - I'm 5 by Alva Sachs has been selected the FINALIST of the 2011 Indie Excellence Award in the category of children's picture book, fiction, hard cover category. The Indie Excellence Awards are reserved for the "best of the best" in books published in various genres. The criteria for recognition are stringent and include overall excellence in presentation. This award celebrates the highest achievements in independent press and self-publishing, a sector of the industry that has grown exponentially in recent years. Winners and finalists were announced on Sunday, May 15. For a complete list of the honorees visit: www.indieexcellence.com/indie-results-2011.htm. |
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Denise
Bloomfield with Torrance Macaroni Kid |
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By: Denise A. Bloomfield Circus Fever Do you remember what is was like to be excited about the Circus? Maybe you have a little one who looks forward to the Circus when it comes to town. Circus Fever by Alva Sachs is a delightful story about a little girl named Jessica who is excited about the Circus! She just can't wait and is so excited! Young children will LOVE this story! My son loved the imagination of the character Jessica. The illustrations by Patricia Krebs are colorful and amazing and makes the delightful story come to life. This story will quickly become a bedtime story (or anytime!) favorite. For more information, check out the Author's website! I love the section on the website for kids. More info about the wonderful book: CIRCUS FEVER is a FINALIST Children's Picture Book in the 2009 National Indie Excellence Awards Creative Child Magazine awards the 2009 Seal of Excellence to Circus Fever in their children's book category. National Best Books Awards recognize Circus Fever as a 2009 FINALIST for children's picture books. Eric Hoffer Award 2010 for excellence in small press publishing is awarded to Circus Fever. On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! You take 3 boys that are best friends, their favorite day of the week, some fun & creativity and throw in their dads and what do you have? A delightful, fun story that young boys of all ages will just love! On your Mark, Get Set, Go! by the talented duo, Alva Sachs and Patricia Krebs is such a fun story that my son wants to read it almost every night at story time. He really likes that the boys favorite day of the week is Saturday. It is his favorite day too. Alva Sachs has such a way of telling a story that a young boy can really relate to it and Patricia Krebs illustrations make the characters come to life. Check out more about this amazing Author at www.alvasachs.com. You can also learn more about the very talented Illustrator at www.patriciakrebs.com.ar. Recognition Awards: The 2010 National Indie Excellence Award, for children's picture books FINALIST is awarded to On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! Creative Child Magazine awards its 2010 Seal of Excellence in their children's book category to On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! The 2010 FINALIST for children's picture books from International Books Awards goes to On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! |
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Reading
is FUNdamental of Southern California |
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 Alva
is honored and proud to have recently been selected to join the
Reading is FUNdamental of Southern California Board. (RIFSoCal)
Earlier this year, she donated her books to their area headquarters
so they could be distibuted as part of the home library building
program. Building home libraries and children being able to have
their very own books help to support the mission of what RIF
stands for nationally and locally."Partnering with RIF SoCal gives me the opportunity to give back to others, help support my visions of literacy, and reach out to our children, our most precious legacy," says Alva. "To promote literacy and motivate children to read by building at-home libraries for underserved children in Greater Los Angeles," is the embodiment of RIFSoCal. Her books manifest the "fun" in "fundamental" and capture the enthusiasm and optimism of childhood. You can learn more about RIFSoCal at www.rifsocal.org Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) is the largest children's literacy nonprofit in the United States. RIF's vision, "is a literate America in which all children have access to books and discover the joys and value of reading. To motivate young children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF's highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8." "RIF prepares and motivates children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need them most. We inspire children to be lifelong readers through the power of choice. RIF provides new, free books for children to choose from and make their own. The seeds of inspiration in these books have motivated children to follow their dreams and achieve their potential. Yes, it seems incredible for a book to launch a life, but it happens every day as hungry, inquisitive young minds reach out and grab hold of the new people, places, and ideas that books bring them." (Excerpts from www.rif.org) |
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Never Too Late |
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 Retirement is a stage of life that can offer opportunities for new beginnings, a time when wisdom and knowledge can be used to pursue the dreams of a lifetime. Linda Sherwood and Alva Sachs are examples of how "retired" entrepreneurs can turn their skills, energy and passion into successful businesses as they enter a new phase of their lives. Linda and Alva are retired teachers who each started their own companies by combining their experiences as educators with their passions as they entered their second stages of life, one as an author of children's books and one as a dealer of Western Americana. THREE WISHES PUBLISHING After teaching elementary school for 16 years, Alva decided to see if her dream of writing children's books could be achieved. "I was one of those teachers who was considered unorthodox," Alva said. "We would sit on the floor during class, use art to learn, things like that." Her love of writing started while she was teaching. Alva started writing workshops to help her students and without realizing it was also honing her own skills. She wrote her first children's book, Circus Fever, 25 years ago but did not know quite what to do with it. After retiring, her thoughts turned again to her writing and to Circus Fever, a book about a young girl who looks forward to the circus coming to her town and imagines herself as one of the performing clowns.  Left and Center: Book Derby event at Borders in Glendale, Calif. Pictured: Bob Boyle and James Burks Right: Barnes & Nobles Kid's Club Storytime event in Calabasas, Calif. Alva founded Three Wishes Publishing Co. and one year later found herself in that same section of Barnes & Noble bookstore, almost in tears as she saw her book on the shelf, just as she had envisioned. Although she does not yet accept submissions for publishing, she has produced a second children's book, On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!, and spends much of her time visiting schools and literary events to do readings and work with children. Aside from visiting schools and libraries around Southern California, she was recently invited to participate in the "Monsters and Miracles: A Journey Through Jewish Picture Books" event at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. "You can never forget the child heart inside of you," Alva said. "Be serious, be committed and love what you do, but don't forget that." |
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Reading
is FUNdamental |
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 RIFSoCal
would like to present Alva Sachs, award winning children's author,
as our featured writer of the month. Alva donated her books, Circus
Fever and On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! to
the Boggle for Books fundraiser on May 8, 2010. RIFSoCal subsequently
purchased the beautifully written and illustrated books for distribution
to RIFSoCal Kids.From the moment, Alva walked into RIFSoCal's headquarters, we were immediately charmed. Her extensive knowledge and love of children's literature and illustration sparked a lengthy conversation. Alva's books and her style were a perfect fit for us as she is the embodiment of the RIFSoCal mission "To promote literacy and motivate children to read by building at-home libraries for underserved children in Greater Los Angeles." Her books manifest the "fun" in "fundamental" and capture the enthusiasm and optimism of childhood. Both of Alva's books are written with a child's world in mind. In Circus Fever, she taps into a child's imagination and love of role playing. Circus Fever is a lovely, kid-friendly book. Patricia Krebs' illustrations are perfect, full of color, whimsy, and excitement. This author/illustrator team really captures the ambiance of the circus and a little girl's desire to be part of it. The second book, On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! features a multicultural trio of friends who are bored and need some motivation other than creating and eating sandwiches. Justin's dad suggests they refurbish their less than perfect skateboards and go to the park for a race. Now, anyone who has ever known 9 year old boys will tell you that this is the penultimate Saturday afternoon. Work in the garage, fix things, have fun with their dads, and then go out for ice cream. Both of these books are written to delight children and to stimulate their imaginations. Bravo, Alva! We look forward to your next books. Alva's background includes a childhood in the Chicago area, a bachelor in science degree from the University of Illinois, followed by 16 years as an elementary school teacher and a Master's Degree in Education from Northern Illinois University. If there is a word which Alva uses to describe her life, it is "serendipity" as explained in the following quote: "I hope that "serendipity" comes your way. It is that breath of fresh air that knocks you off your feet, catches you off guard, puts a smile on your face and lets you know, that you never really do know what IS around the corner!" |
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Children's Book Author Shares Stories in Skokie, Illinois |
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By MYRNA PETLICKI Contributor, Pioneer Press
On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! at the Westfield Old Orchard Barnes and Noble in Skokie, 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 17. Sachs' latest book and her first, Circus Fever, have each won several small press publisher awards. Patricia Krebs illustrated both children's books. On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! which has Sachs' son Justin as a main character, is about three best friends who need the help of their fathers to have their best Saturday ever. "I don't know where the ideas come from -- they fall from the sky," said Sachs, who used to teach elementary school in Barrington. She loves doing book signings because she enjoys "just being with the kids -- talking with them, reading to them, asking them to share their thoughts and opinions." She also engages the children in activities. For details, call (847) 676-2230 or visit www.alvasachs.com. |
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The
2010 Seal of Excellence Award from |
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 Award-winning
author, Alva Sachs, and illustrator, Patricia Krebs, are delighted
to have been recognized by Creative Child Magazine for the second
time. TheSeal of Excellence is a prestigious award that is given to those products that exceed expectations based on the criteria for nurturing creativity and education in children. After three years of working together on children's picture books, Alva and Patricia strive to create stories and illustrations that spark the imagination and create a desire to read for fun and explore new ideas. Creative Child Magazine is a bi-monthly publication that provides parents with the latest information on how to nurture their child's creativity and raise well-balanced children. The Creative Child Magazine's Awards Program is unique in that a panel of over 100 moms, educators and other professionals choose the award winners. These moms, educators, and early education professionals review all submitted products, the very people who purchase these products. |
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Congratulations to the 2010 National Indie Excellence Award Winners and Finalists! |
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 "ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO!" has placed as a FINALIST in the "Children's Picture Book" category. 2010 National Indie Excellence Award Judging Complete: The Biggest Challenge Yet! The National Indie Excellence Awards contest shines a spotlight on books that demonstrate excellence. National Indie Excellence Award judges are professionals from all aspects of the independent book industry, from book cover and interior designers and professional copywriters to publishers, writers, editors and more. They select award winners and finalists based on overall excellence of presentation. This year's contest had them more than challenged to make final selections, said sponsor Ellen Reid. "Our judges agreed that never before have so many independent and self-published books demonstrated such a high level of excellence. In recognition of this happy development, we are going to be expanding our categories to allow for more winners in next year's contest. If our message of excellence is being heeded, then we're going to celebrate those who demonstrate it!" Reid commented. The NIEA emblem on a cover lets people know this is a book that meets the highest standards of independent publishing."  The
Indie Excellence® Awards are sponsored by Smarketing, LLC.
President & CEO Ellen Reid has been a respected executive
in the publishing industry for over twelve years. The Indie Excellence® Awards
competition is judged by an independent panel of experts from
all aspects of the publishing industry. |
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JPX
Media Announces Winners and Finalists of the |
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Independent Titles
Score Top Honors in the 1st Annual International Book Awards
 LOS ANGELES - JPX Media announced the winners and finalists of THE 2010 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS (IBA) on May 18, 2010. Over 300 winners and finalists were announced in over 140 categories covering print and audio books. Awards were presented for titles published in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Award-winning children's author, ALVA SACHS is honored as ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO! receives FINALIST recognition in the children's hard cover picture book category. This is Alva's second children's picture book and it has proven to be a successful follow-up to her previous award-winning book, CIRCUS FEVER. Jeff Keen, President and CEO of JPX Media, said this year's contest yielded a large number of entries, which were then narrowed down to over 300 winners and finalists. Keen says of the awards, "The 2010 results represent a phenomenal mix of books from a wide array of publishers throughout the United States. With a full publicity and marketing campaign promoting the results of IBA, this year's winners and finalists will gain additional media coverage for the summer season. Keen adds, "IBA's success begins with the enthusiastic participation of authors and publishers and continues with our distinguished panel of industry judges who bring to the table their extensive editorial, PR, marketing, and design expertise." JPX Media is located in Los Angeles and is involved in numerous aspects of the entertainment and publishing industries. A complete list of the winners and finalists of The 2010 International Book Awards is available online at www.IBA2011.com. |
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Circus Fever is 2010 Eric Hoffer Award Finalist |
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 Alva
Sachs, award-winning children's author, and Three
Wishes Publishing Company were honored with press distinction
in the Small Press category for the 2010 Eric Hoffer
Award year.CIRCUS FEVER, their children's picture book took home the honors. This particular recognition is appreciated due to its dedication to the spirit of free thinkers, writers and the opportunity of independent small press companies who helped to enhance the industry in its unique way. For Alva, the FINALIST honor for CIRCUS FEVER is special in that it continues to provide the direction for her writing while pursuing her own small press company and its impact to publish books that are fun to read while encouraging the love of reading at an early age dedicated to quality, content, and artistic standards. The press honors are considered by the Eric Hoffer Project to be the next level beyond the singular grand prize. The Hoffer Award was founded at the start of the 21st century by award-winning author Christopher Klim (with permission from the Eric Hoffer Estate) to honor free-thinking writers and independent books of exceptional merit. After our rigorous first round of judging, less than 10% of the titles become category finalists. We consider this, a distinction of its own merit and, in 2008, began officially listing these titles on-line. Finalists are selected by category scoring. There are typically 1-6 books per category selected as a finalist. Finalists fall into approximately the upper 15% of all books that entered the contest. Former migratory worker and longshoreman, Eric Hoffer burst on the scene in 1951 with his irreplaceable tome, The True Believer, and assured his place among the most important thinkers of the twentieth century. Nine books later, Hoffer remains a vital figure with his cogent insights to the nature of mass movements and the essence of humankind. In 1943, Hoffer chose the longshoreman's life and settled in California. Eventually, he worked three days each week and spent one day as "research professor" at the University of California in Berkeley. In 1964, he was the subject of twelve half-hour programs on national television. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1983. To learn more about Eric Hoffer visit the Web site www.HofferAward.com |
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Microphone & Headphones: On The Air with Alva Sachs |
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 Alva
is all set for her first radio interview with Tim Carpenter of "experiencetalks" radio
at KPFK 90.7 LA and streaming and archived at www.experiencetalks.orgTake a listen and catch the fun! Download the Interview |
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Reading Is Fundamental of Southern California |
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| Alva
Sachs, award winning, children's author teams up with
RIF-SoCal by donating her books, Circus Fever and On
Your Mark, Get Set, Go! "Since 1972, robust growth has been a RIFSoCal priority. As our country moves forward to offer hope for our collective future, we are doing the same by offering underserved children of Greater Los Angeles hope for their future. With public schools stretched beyond their resouces, RIFSocal believes we must join together with the Los Angeles community to help inspire children's passion for reading - the greatest gift we can give them on their personal road to success." Working together with Carol K. Henault, Executive Director and her staff was a rewarding experience for Alva. Knowing that children from underserved areas will be able to visit the RIF-SoCal "library" and select their very own brand new book for the very first time is something they will never forget. Believing in the same mission as RIF, this is a perfect fit for Alva, children and promoting the fun in reading and its priceless reward for each child's future. You can learn more about RIFSoCal at www.rifsocal.org or nationally at www.rif.org to find your region to participate as a donor or volunteer. |
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Stacie Theis has a love for authors and books for children.
