CONVERSATIONS With Kim Carson

From bestselling author and entrepreneur Meena Harris, The Truth About Mrs. Claus offers a fresh take on holiday stories with an empowering story about being true to yourself, honoring family traditions, and believing in Christmas magic.

In this holiday picture book, Amalia the Elf loves everything about making teddy bears . . .Watching Grandma and Mama sew!

Feeling the soft, velvety fur!Imagining the bears in their new homes!. . except the bear-making part. Worried about disappointing her family, Amalia goes straight to Santa for advice. But it’s Mrs. Claus who knows how to solve Amalia’s problem—and who needs help with a secret of her own.

It’s about finding truth in purpose while acknowledging important traditions; it’s about intergenerational relationships, and finding your own way, even when it means reshaping other’s expectations. Changing course, developing new interests, and challenging norms can feel scary—I hope every child that picks up this book has someone in their corner as they forge new paths ahead.”

Like many kids on the autism spectrum, Charlie finds solace and empowerment in pools, ponds, sprinklers, visiting the aquarium, and swimming in the ocean. Through his adventures and discoveries, he shows the world that even though he has autism, autism doesn’t have him. It is a beautiful ode to the love between siblings Callie and Charlie, while showing readers that kids who may experience the world in different ways can help us see the wonders of swimming to your own rhythm. CHARLIE MAKES A SPLASH, co-authored by Holly Robinson Peete and her son, RJ Peete, is a companion to the award-winning book MY BROTHER CHARLIE. With the same cast of characters bringing whimsy to everyday fun for all children, the Peetes co-wrote these books to help share awareness about autism with other children who have been touched by it.

Todd Gray is an artist in every sense of the word. Todd is an internationally renowned photographer, artist and author. He was Michael Jackson's official photographer for over 10 years beginning in the late 70's throughout the 80's. He shot The Jacksons on American Bandstand and Soul Train back to back. He was with him documenting his life for Off The Wall, Thriller, Moonwalking, The Victory Tour, We Are The World and Michael Jackson hand picked him to be the guy who captured the highest times of his life and career. Todd captured the iconic image of Michael on point in those shining sparkling shoes. By the time Todd was 17 he had photographed an album cover, travelled with The Rolling Stones and had his photographs published in LIFE Magazine  I occasionally meet "those" kind of people, artists, whose art crosses all boundaries of space and time which brings me to Todd's exhibit currently on display at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (now until January 2, 2022) TODD GRAY: Crossing The Waters of Space, Time and History. Three of his new works will make their debut at the KIA. Todd melds images together that juxtapose his art will make you step back and think, re-think, examine and explore the possibilities. In general the art will challenge you both by what he is including and also by what he is leaving out.Learn more about Todd Gray

I’m sure both the NatGeo Kids Almanac and underwater photographer and explorer Brian Skerry are both familiar to you, especially with the recent release of the NatGeo book and Disney+ original series Secrets of the Whales. Brian will be talking about being a featured explorer in the brand new Kids Almanac 2022. We also talked about diving with sharks and what was the scariest thing that ever happened.

Reviews:

'"...this gathering of upbeat, vividly illustrated, browser-friendly dips into topics ranging from black holes to blue-footed boobies to Bolivian street food is hard to put down, and the pop quizzes and research guides at each chapter’s end will give studious sorts a leg up, too." - Kirkus

The book has all the usual fantastic colorful features and it also features a new Kids vs. Plastic chapter packed with ideas on how to reduce plastic waste. Brian will introduce the 2022 Challenge which helps kids to celebrate our awesome ocean.

Learn more: www.BrianSkerry.com

Graci Kim's post on Twitter sums it all up. "Last but not least - to all the diaspora kids, adoptees, misfits. To anyone who’s ever felt invisible, or like they didn’t belong.

I SEE YOU

Real magic lives inside all of us - in the choices we make every single day. This book is for you!"

Best selling author Rick Riordan has given Graci Kim a stamp of approval for her book The Last Fallen Star.

Graci was a sweet little Korean girl who never saw characters in books that looked like her when she was growing up. Her life was filled with lots of different experiences but she grew up believing that kids like her couldn’t be the heroes of our stories. Today her Korean witches book comes out & she will tell you she was wrong. Your voices matter. Your stories matter. YOU matter. And sometimes, your wildest dreams can come true. Riley Oh will take you on her adventure of self discovery and acceptance. #TheLastFallenStar

www.gracikim.com

Growing up in Detroit, Motown music was such a big part of my life. It was all over the radio, my record box was filled with the 45's and albums. A year and a half ago I interviewed the legendary Mary Wilson founding member of The Supremes. She was dancing on the TV show Dancing With The Stars. She looked so good!

But last night unexpectedly she passed away at her home in Henderson, Nevada at the age of 76.

She is survived by her daughter, son, many grandchildren, a sister and brother.

A celebration of her life will take place later this year. She was a trailblazer and broke down social, racial, and gender barriers.

R.I.P Mary thankfully the music lives on

Today my conversation is with award winning author Michael Walsh, who also is a classical music aficionado. I wanted to talk with him about his latest book Last Stands: Why Men Fight When All Is Lost. What is about some men who give it their all up until the very end.

I was curious if Michael thought we were in a last stand now with Donald Trump as Joe Biden readies himself to take over the presidency.

Award-winning author Michael Walsh celebrates the masculine attributes of heroism that forged American civilization and Western culture by exploring historical battles in which soldiers chose death over dishonor in Last Stands: Why Men Fight When All Is Lost.

Purchase Last Stand from your local bookstore and at Amazon: www.amazon.com/Last-Stands-Fight-When-Lost/dp/1250217083

Michael is on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/michael.a.walsh.927

Today's Conversation With Kim is with Deon Cole who was so much fun to talk to and I really appreciate him getting up so early in the morning to chat with me. Four shows on the air right now Black-ish, Grown-ish, Angie Tribeca Face Value plus his stand-up and comedy specials...this is one of the hardest working guys in the business today...meet Deon Cole~

Black-ish http://abc.go.com/shows/blackish

Grown-ish http://abc.go.com/shows/grown-ish

Angie Tribeca http://www.tbs.com/shows/angie-tribeca

Face Value https://www.bet.com/shows/face-value.html

Had a fun conversation today with Laura Corn author of the book "101 Nights Of Grrreat Romance...Secret Sealed Seductions for Fun-Loving Couples" Laura talked to me about how "this is not a book you read but a book you DO." So, if you are looking for some new ways to spice up the romance department for both you and your partner this is the Valentine's Day (or anytime) book for you!

Pick it up from your local bookstore and online at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/101-Nights-Grrreat-Romance-Seductions/dp/0962962821

Reach out to Laura at www.101nights.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/101nights

I interviewed Suzanne Somers today she has a new book out called Two's Company: A Fifty Year Romance With Lessons Learned In Love, Life and Business. I adore her this is the second time we've talked and I always learn a valuable nugget of wisdom. In other news Elton John lost his mother yesterday after they finally reconciled and made peace. I talked to Suzanne about that same thing today and what were the feelings she had when she reconciled with John Ritter one month before he passed and the reconciliation with Joyce DeWitt her Three's Company co-star...David Cassidy's last words pretty much sum it up "So much wasted time"

Suzanne is such a wonderful and wise woman who has lived and continues to live a full life...the read is inspirational and would make the perfect stocking stuffer for that special person who needs to know that "It's not the problems in your life that define you it's how you respond to those things that define you"-Suzanne Somers

Get her book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Twos-Company-Fifty-Year-Rom...

Visit Suzanne at: https://www.suzannesomers.com/