Beantown Pals w/ Bucky and Betty

Tony Abbott is a prolific children's book author. He has graciously agreed to visit us in Beantown to speak about his works and give advice to young writers.

When he began reading bedtime stories to his children, the spark of writing he had had for so many years finally turned to children’s books. After many failures, his first published book, Danger Guys, was written while taking a writing class with renowned children’s author, Patricia Reilly Giff.

DSC03371Since then Tony has written over ninety-five books for readers ages 6 to 14, including many series (The Secret of Droon, The Haunting of Derek Stone, Underworlds, Goofballs, to name a few) and novels for older readers, including Kringle, Firegirl, The Postcard, and Lunch-Box Dream. His publishers include HarperCollins, Hyperion, Scholastic, Random House, Little, Brown, Egmont, and Farrar Straus Giroux.

Over 12 million of Tony’s books have been sold worldwide, and his series and novels have been translated into Italian, Spanish, Korean, French, Japanese, Polish, Turkish, Chinese, and Russian. Several of his books were named Children’s Book-of-the-Month Club selections and Junior Library Guild selections and have appeared on state reading lists, including the Texas Bluebonnet list, and the Great Lakes Great Award Master List, and Choose to Read Ohio.

Firegirl won the Golden Kite Award for Fiction presented by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

In the spring of 2009, The Postcard was honored with the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Allan Poe Award for best mystery in the juvenile category.

He is currently a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the Yale Center for British Art, and other esteemed arts organizations.

Host Tom Hayes and guest host Bucky spin some great songs and play some great stories of the Adventures of Bucky and Betty and news events in Beantown. Tune in for a trip thru Beantown.

Dave Kinnoin is "one of the most successful singer-songwriters working today" according to Billboard Magazine. "Dave consistently creates new, innovative, award-winning music and lyrics. He tours nationally to rave reviews."

Dave Kinnoin the Songwriter consistently creates new and innovative material for a long list of family entertainment and educational companies. He's written over 200 songs in the past few years alone, most notably for Jim Henson TV, Video, and Interactive; Disney Audio, Video, and TV; Davidson & Associates; Simon and Shuster Interactive; Sesame Street and Sony Wonder Home Video; and Children's Television Workshop.

It's not just that voice, that resonates just right with kids, it's the attitude. There's a sincerity that kids respond to. It lets them know they're in on the joke or whatever else is happening.

Here's a grown-up who understands and tells it just like it is.

Parents' Choice Gold Award (5)

NAPPA (National Association of Parenting Publications Award) Gold Award (2)

NAPPA (National Association of Parenting Publications) Honors

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award (2)

Film Advisory Board of Excellence (2)

Parenting Magazine's Video Magic Award

Columbia (Ohio) International Film & Video Festival Bronze Plaque

Sybil Brand Humanitarian Award

Songwriters Guild of America Rising Star Award

Society for Technical Communication Award of Merit

INDIE Award Nominee

     

Patricia Shih wrote her first song at age 12 and hasn't stopped since. At the age of 15, she signed a recording and management contract with Unicorn Records of Washington, D.C. as half of a duo. This marked the start of her professional career. She continues to write, record and perform locally and nationally from her home in Huntington, NY.

Erin "Basket Case Farm" Johannson guest hosts today's show with Bucky as DJ and host. Princess Erin has been living with her Prince Charming in Lucerne Switzerland since he rode into her life on his white steed and whisked her off to his caslte in Switzerland. Erin will discuss her recent trip to Italy and her cuisne and dietary tips for kids and their parents. Get your napkins ready as she will make your mouth water with her descriptions of Italian cuisine and farming.

Silly Goose and Valerie Leonhart Smalkin is a singer/songrwriter/musician/ventriliquist/author who, with her sidekick, Silly Goose, have  kept children and adult audiences listening, singing, dancing and laughing for decades. She has had a myriad of careers from musician to lawyer back to music and now full time entertainer and author. In the 1990's she hosted a children's television show on WMAR TV called, 'Kinder Time'. Along with illustrator Kimberly Hopkins, Valerie has completed her first book, 'Springtime Dance' complete with a CD of words and music. Join us along with co-hosts Patricia Shih and Shirah Penn.

Michelle Reynolds has been on a mission to bring children and families Back 2 Basics in a natural and quality manner. Through her speaking, workshops and coaching programs, Michelle works with parents and children giving them easy to follow guidelines to creating harmonious and thriving families.

As a working mother of 2 young children, Michelle knows first-hand the challenges that face today’s busy and stressed out parents.

Through her own journey The Back 2 Basics Family programs were born. With 15 years of primary elementary teaching behind her, along with certifications in Birth through preschool by the State of Florida and is National Board Certified in Early Education, Michelle is able to give information that is practical.

In 2009 Michelle opened Back 2 Basics Childcare in her home which focused on children ages birth to 4 years and gave them the opportunity to learn through developmentally appropriate activities and all types of sensory play. As she continued on her journey and self growth Michelle realized how many moms had fears holding them back from being their true, authentic self. So many women are trying to fit into what society has said we must do and be.

What would happen if we let all of that go? What would happen if we were given permission to look deep inside ourselves, with the support of other women and a guide to the dreams and desires that are burning inside each one of us?

Joyce "Earth Mama" visits Beantown Pals radio today with Luke Rodney as guest host. Earth Mama cirlcles the globe with songs about the globe and how to save it. She lives in Brentwood, TN and says that we have to save the earth because it is the only planet with chocolate! She owns BA degree from Iowa State University and an MA in earth literacy from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana. She has more than 90 writing credits to her name and her works have been chosen by such artists as Maureen McGovern, Marie Osmond, Jennifer Carter and others.

Luke Rodney is a regular guest to the show and lives in Branford, CT and his music reflects his origins in the islands of Tobago and Trinidad.

Roxanne Birney, President & Founder of J & J Nurturing Company.  Professionally trained facilitator, published author, keynote speaker, educator and support group leader for cancer survivors and storyteller.

Roxanne has conducted workshops and keynote presentations on many topics and is an active member with Toastmasters International Speaking Organization.  In addition to her diversified career she is also the mother of two college students and has been married for twenty five years.  Roxanne is an 25+ cancer survivor and lives by five simple rules.

Five Simple Rules for Happiness:

Free your heart from hatred.

Free your mind from worries.

Live simply.

Give more.

Expect less

Today she will discuss the origins and message of her book, "Johanna's Lazy Eye".

Marsha Goodman Wood is a children's singer/songwriter. She's been a Licensed Musikgarten Teacher since 2006, and loves teaching babies, toddlers and young elementary aged children.  She began teaching at a Montessori school for children ages 2 - 6, and got to teach many classes and gain a lot of experience  in her first few years.  Adding baby classes was a natural extension for her.  Her two older children are in elementary school now, and she loved singing with them when they were babies. She has a knack for working with very young children, and loves seeing the joy they express as they experience musical moments.

She has also been writing some new songs, and released her debut CD of original kids songs, called "Gravity Vacation" in early 2012. In addition to my musical training, she graduated from Columbia College in New York City in 1994 with a BA in Psychology and received a Masters in Psychology from the University of Missouri in 2000 where she specialized in Cognitive Neuroscience.

Today, Amy Conley, New Hampshire resident/singer/songwriter joins Beantown Pals radio to discuss her music roots and share her songs, music and lyrics. Also joining the show is the creative genius of Erin Johansson to discuss the origins of Beantown Pals and Bucky and Bett all the way from her home in Switzerland.