In case you didn’t know it, today, August 11th, a really great picture book goes on sale. It’s a multi-cultural rhyming call and response book that asks the very important question: How Do You Wokka-Wokka? and it was written by none other than ShelfTalker’s Elizabeth Bluemle
and my partner. Okay, I’m so proud I’m practially bursting, but even if hadn’t owned a store with her for thirteen years, I’d still love, love this book.
Already the book has garnered excellent reviews, including a starred review from School Library Journal.
This is a fun, fun, book. And our nephew, Will, was the inspiration for it. He was playing with his mom when he was two and a half (he’s ten now), and kept asking her (and everyone else in hearing distance), "How do you wokka-wokka?" No one could figure out what he meant, so finally his mom played along and made up a silly dance move. Little Will got the whole family dancing together in their own unique ways, and the seed of the book idea was planted.
This is a lively, infectiously rhyming book. The response at the story hour done on Cape Cod was delightful. Lots of giggling children trying to find their own Wokka. If you happen to be in Shelburne, Vt., this Saturday, come to our block party release event with free hot dogs, cake, face painting, and African drumming for all the kids.
I couldn’t be happier for Elizabeth, or my store’s bottom line, which is going to have a nice bump this month.
Congratulations to Elizabeth on a WONDERFUL book! It’s a lot of fun to read with children. I wish we could be there for the block party. I can just imagine all the fun with people wokka-wokka-ing in their own special ways!
It is fabulous and Randy Cecil’s delightful artwork perfectly compliments Elizabeth’s stellar text! Congrats to all involved.
I LOVE this book too! Congrats to Elizabeth on the BIG DAY!
This book is fun, fun, fun! My own kids already love it. 🙂
And doesn’t it have THE.BEST.TITLE.EVER???
Ack! Snort! You are all lovely people, including Josie, who really shouldn’t have done this post!
sounds adorable. shelli
Sorry, but this post is a pretty tacky. First, WOKKA is far from the best picture book of the year. Second–and more seriously–using your paid PW blog to boast about your partner’s book seems unethical.
Anonymous, I can see your point. Josie is just so excited and full of enthusiasm. To be fair, she said it was her favorite, not the best. And fully admitted her bias. It’s a tricky line to tread; this is a booksellers’ blog about children’s books, and as an author also, I have an unusual dual perspective on the industry. But of course there’s an awkwardness in talking about one’s own book. PW has asked us to show pictures and blog about the launch party, and I apologize in advance but hope it will offer some fun ideas for other booksellers and authors when planning events. Thanks for your honest comment.
I have to comment to anonymous: I cleared the post with my editor before submitting it because I was worried about how it might seem. I was, and still am, bursting with pride about the book. I think every once in awhile an honest (I said in the beginning my relationship to Elizabeth) shout out(with prior approval) to a beloved book written by a friend is not unethical, it’s enthusiastically human.
Dear Anonymous, What seems tacky is tacking on a rude comment to your opinion about the appropriateness of the post. An opinion to which you are of course, entitled. Next time consider using this public forum for constructive ideas. Now, off to discover the new book! Thank you, Josie for your enthusiasm. I loved My Father the Dog (bought a copy for my dad, even) and I look forward to enjoying another humorous family adventure.