Mama’s Day with Little Gray – Aimee Reid

The Best Part (and a Holiday Offer)

July 5, 2019December 7, 2015 by Aimee Reid

I met Veronica at one of my author visits. She loved trying on my Little Gray puppet. After the program, Veronica’s mom, Emily, shared with me that they had been enjoying Mama’s Day with Little Gray at home. Veronica even had a favorite line: “Mmm,” said Mama. “I know I’d feel safe.”

Moments like these are the very best part of being an author. I realize the honor of being a part of this family’s time together. I feel blessed every time people tell me a story about their connection to my book: one mom sent a copy to her son who is now researching animal habitat; one toddler sleeps with a copy of the book in their bed; other children have memorized Little Gray’s lines and like to surprise their parents with his questions, knowing that they’ll hear reassuring words in return.

Stories like these are why I linger over autographs, imagining the children for whom I’m inscribing books and wishing them joy. They’re why this year I’m giving myself the gift of extending a special holiday offer to you.

If you would like to send an autographed copy of Mama’s Day with Little Gray to someone, send me a note through the contact form on my website.Let me know the name of the person for whom you’re buying a book along with the shipping address. I’ll autograph a copy of the book, include a personal message to the recipient, and send it on its way. I’ll even wrap it in some foil paper!

Payment can be made by sending a cheque or through online options such as PayPal or email transfers. For $20.00 (which includes wrapping and shipping), you can send a unique, personalized gift to someone on your list. Happy giving!

Expanding Horizons

March 24, 2015 by Aimee Reid

The gestation period for my book was much longer than it was for my three children. I first had the idea nine years before Mama’s Day with Little Gray was published. Launch day brought feelings of excitement, curiosity, and a little bit of maternal protectiveness. Would my book find its way safely to new shelves? Would it be accepted? Liked, even?

I remembered the days of parting with my children at the Kindergarten door. Sometimes the teacher would send a note home with one of them that said: “I had a great day!” How much I appreciated those. Now that my book is out in the big, wide world, it’s been special to receive reports and pictures of Little Gray from various places. Like postcards from camp, they let me know that my book is faring well on this new adventure.

Below are a sampling of the places I’ve heard from:

Charlotte Glover, former children’s librarian and owner of Parnassus Books and Gifts in Ketchikan, Alaska wrote to say that she enjoyed Mama’s Day with Little Gray and had featured it for Mother’s Day in her store.

Ben McNally Books, a gorgeous store on Bay Street in Toronto, Ontario displayed the book by the cash.

Nancy Fanning, event coordinator at Bethany Beach Books in Bethany Beach, Delaware reported that Mama’s Day with Little Gray was a hit at a recent story time.

Friends far and wide sent pictures of my book in their local Chapters, Indigo, or Barnes and Noble stores.

And I found it nicely displayed in an area bookstore, Bryan Prince Bookseller, on the first day of release.

How wonderful to see Mama’s Day with Little Gray keeping company with such fine people and books. Thanks for celebrating with me, everyone.

Free, Personalized Bookplates

December 1, 2014 by Aimee Reid

I’ve been touched by notes from readers telling me about those with whom they have shared Mama’s Day with Little Gray. Copies have gone to brand new babies, young adults just leaving the nest, elderly parents, and—of course—children. I even heard that a book is on its way to a family in Thailand that runs an elephant shelter.

With gratitude for the many ways people are sharing Mama’s Day with Little Gray, I am offering, for a limited time, to send out free bookplates with personalized inscriptions. The bookplate is clear with adhesive on the back so that it may be affixed to the book.

Just drop me a note through the contact form at www.aimeereidbooks.com. Let me know to whom I should address the autograph and where you’d like it sent. I will not share your information.

I’ll try to send out your bookplates soon after I receive your requests in case you’d like to give Mama’s Day with Little Gray as a holiday gift. I would love to be a part of your festivities in this small way.

Warm holiday wishes!

Aimee

Spark-makers

May 25, 2014 by Aimee Reid

As I’ve chatted with booksellers, teachers, and librarians over the past while, I’ve been reminded of the incredible gift you offer each time you place a good book in the hands of a child.

When I was young, the small town where I lived had no bookstore. Fortunately for me, my family subscribed to the Beginner Books Club from Random House. I can still remember the feeling of anticipation that swept over me as I gripped a new brown package in my hands. I could hardly wait to smell that new book smell and turn the first pages.

The sparks those books struck ignited in me a long-lasting love of reading that has never been quenched. Sparks form when two objects connect in just the right way. I think they provide an apt metaphor for what happens when we place the right book in the hands of the right child at the right time.

File:Sparkler.JPG — from the Wikipedia Commons, photographer Gabriel Pollard

I still carry a sense of gratitude for the people who created those books and placed them in my hands. Someone wrote the words, perfected the font, and crafted the ad copy. Someone slid the books into their brown cardboard packages. Someone delivered them to my door.

Now, as I enjoy those same books with my own children. I realize more deeply the power story has to connect us with one another. We truly are shaped by the stories we share. I can’t help but hope that my own book, Mama’s Day with Little Gray, will be similarly cherished. That it will remind the children and adults who read it together of all that is good and fun and nurturing about their relationships.

Little-Gray-Water-Image2 — copyright Laura J. Bryant

Because, yes, milk spills. Laundry piles up. Cereal gets ground into the floor. There is strife in the world, but there is also tenderness and beauty and caring that transform ordinary moments into extraordinary memories of connection.

I realize that you may never fully know just how the work you do will change people’s lives. Perhaps yesterday you sold a bug book to a future world-renowned biologist. Maybe tomorrow you will chat with the next Dr. Seuss. It’s possible that today you will recommend a book to a mom whose relationship with her child will be forever shaped by that story she’ll read night after night.

Aimee's phone May 10-2014 838 — My basket of thank-you treats for booksellers at Random House

My wish for you is that you will feel a little of the joy and wonder that you create in the world as you foster connections that will brighten and warm people for generations to come.

Time Together

January 24, 2014January 23, 2014 by Aimee Reid

One evening, as I was tucking my daughter into bed, she said, “When I grow up and you grow down . . . .” Then she went on to chat about what fun we would have if she were my mother and I were her child.

My daughter’s words flew like a spark to my imagination and eventually became Mama’s Day with Little Gray. Little Gray, too, dreams about switching roles with his mama. He would fetch her tasty leaves, shade her from the sun—even roll in the mud with her.

I wanted this story to celebrate the joy found in the ordinary. Rolling in the mud would be unusual for us, but it’s just what elephants do. What makes their activities special is that Little Gray and Mama share them. They are together.

I love this image of Mama and Little Gray sitting side by side at the close of the day. Our culture seems to pride itself on doing more and trying harder. But it doesn’t need to be difficult to simply be together. And if we pay attention, we can see the beauty of right now. Of how our child’s eyes crinkle when she laughs. Of hanging around in our pyjamas at the Saturday morning breakfast table. Of one more story. Of watching the clouds roll by.

Let’s appreciate the good times we already enjoy.

In celebration of everyday beauty, l’ll be giving away some gifts that I hope will enliven your time with loved ones.*

You can enter in one of three ways:

1. Post a comment below about one way you have enjoyed spending time with a child.

2. Subscribe to my blog, Good Books to Share. You’ll read stories of how children’s books have enriched people’s lives.

3. Subscribe to my newsletter. It features behind-the-scenes stories of the creation of children’s books and includes tips straight from their authors and illustrators on how to make story time fun and memorable.

Let’s cherish the many ordinary, awe-filled moments we share.

Enjoy your time together!

Sincerely,

Aimee

*Contest details: Entries must be received by May 11th (midnight, EST). Prizes will be drawn at random on May 12th. Winners will be contacted by email. One entry per email address.

The Best Part (and a Holiday Offer)

Expanding Horizons

Free, Personalized Bookplates

Spark-makers

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