This is Anthony Avina speaking. I am honored today to share with you all this exclusive guest blog post from the wonderful and talented author Anna Levine. Having been promoting her latest children’s book All Eyes on Alexandra, Anna is here to talk about how she uses fiction to write a non-fiction book. I hope you all will enjoy and be sure to look at the end of this post for all of Anna’s info.
Last year I was invited to speak to a group of children’s book writers who were touring Israel. I have a series of archaeology-themed picture books about a young girl who dreams of being an archaeologist. Since the writers were going to experience a dig, they invited me along.
Dressed in shorts, caps and running shoes, I looked at the group of authors and realized that archaeology is not only about digging up the past, but becoming the adventurous child you once were. These writers in their thirties, forties and some in their eighties had become younger versions of themselves. And once we’d entered the cave, had picks, trowels brushes and pails, the hunt for treasures began. The joy at discovering history could be heard in their shouts as they uncovered ancient shards. While Jodie, the protagonist of my archaeological series (Jodie’s Hanukkah Dig), is a work of fiction, all the details about being on an archeological dig are factual.
In my latest picture book, I move from the treasures hidden beneath to the wonders above us. In this part of my world, over five hundred millions birds fly across the skies twice a year on their way to and from Africa. The sight of these migrating birds is magical. Wanting to share this environmental wonder with young readers, I chose Alexandra, a young female bird with an adventurous spirit. I visited the Bird Observatory and spoke with the researches who helped me track the birds’ migration route. I drove up to the Hula Valley Reserve and observed the birds at sunrise and sunset, their busiest times.
As a novice writer I was told ‘write what you know,’ I’ve adapted the old adage to, ‘write what you wish to discover.’ Non-fiction and fiction can complement each other well as along as the facts are correct and the characters are emotionally endearing.
Book summary
In All Eyes on Alexandra, young Alexandra Crane is terrible at following her family in their flying Vee. She can’t help it that the world is so full of interesting distracting sights! When it’s time for the Cranes to migrate to Israel’s Hula Valley for the winter, Alexandra is excited but her family is worried. Will Alexandra stay with the group, and what happens if a dangerous situation should arise? Might Alexandra—and the rest of the flock—discover that a bad follower can sometimes make a great leader?
Based on the true story of Israel’s annual crane migration.
Print Length: 32 Pages
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Publisher: Kar-Ben Pub
ISBN-10: 1512444391
ISBN-13: 978-1512444391
All Eyes on Alexandra is available to purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Target and Thrift Books.
Explore the Best Books of 2018 at BN.comAbout the Author, Anna Levine
Anna Levine is an award-winning children’s book author. Like Alexandra Crane, the character in her latest picture book, she loves to explore new worlds. Born in Canada, Anna has lived in the US and Europe. She now lives in Israel, where she writes and teaches.
You can find Anna Levine online at —
Author website: http://www.annalevine.org/
Twitter: @LevineAnna
Instagram: @booksfromanna
About the Illustrator, Chiara Pasqualotto,
Chiara Pasqualotto was born in Padua, in northern Italy, currently teaches illustration and drawing classes to children and adults, in particular in Padua during the summer at the Scuola Internazionale di Comics and in Rome. Since 2008 she’s been living in Rome and working with illustration professionally: her first picture book, Mine, All Mine! was published in 2009 by Boxer Books (UK), since then she published with Oxford University Press, Giunti, Terranuova and some American publishers (Paraclete Press, Tyndale, LearningAZ, Kar-Ben Publisher).
You can find Chiara Pasqualotto online at –
Artist website – https://romeartweek.com/en/artists/?id=1495&ida=1004
Blog: http://chiarapasqualotto.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clairepaspage/
– Blog Tour Dates
December 3rd @ The Muffin
What goes better in the morning than a muffin? Make sure you visit WOW’s blog today and read an interview with the author and enter for a chance to win a copy of the book All Eyes on Alexandra.
December 5th @ Cassandra’s Writing World
Visit Cassandra’s blog where she shares her thoughts about Anna Levine’s picture book All Eyes on Alexandra.
https://cassandra-mywritingworld.blogspot.com/
December 5th @ Break Even Books
Visit Erik’s blog where you can read Anna Levine’s guest post about how to jog your inspiration.
December 7th @ Coffee with Lacey
Grab some coffee and visit Lacey’s blog where you can read her review of Anna Levine’s picture book All Eyes on Alexandra.
http://coffeewithlacey.wordpress.com
December 8th @ Author Anthony Avina’s Blog
Visit Anthony Avina’s blog today where he joins in the fun of celebrating and shares information about Anna Levine’s book All Eyes on Alexandra.
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com
December 8th @ Christy’s Cozy Corners
Visit Christy’s blog and cozy up while you read her review of Anna Levine’s picture book All Eyes on Alexandra.
https://christyscozycorners.com/
December 9th @ Coffee with Lacey
Visit Lacey’s blog again where you can read Anna Levine’s guest post about designing your ideal writing spot.
http://coffeewithlacey.wordpress.com
December 9th @ Christy’s Cozy Corner
Visit Christy’s blog where you can read Anna Levine’s blog post about how she decided to use crane’s in her story.
https://christyscozycorners.com/
December 10th @ Thoughts in Progress
Visit Pamela’s blog where you can read Anna Levine’s guest post about how authors use anthropomorphic animals.
http://masoncanyon.blogspot.com/
December 11th @ Read. Write. Sparkle. Coffee.
Make sure you visit Jeanie’s blog today and read her thoughts about Anna Levine’s book All Eyes on Alexandra.
http://www.readwritesparklecoffee.com/
December 12th @ Author Anthony Avina Blog
Visit Anthony Avina’s blog where he interviews Anna Levine, author of All Eyes on Alexandra.
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com
December 13th @ Read. Write. Sparkle. Coffee.
Make sure you visit Jeanie’s blog today and read Anna Levine’s guest post about building a theme day around a picture book.
http://www.readwritesparklecoffee.com/
December 13th @ Oh for the Hook of a Book
Visit Erin’s blog where she shares her thoughts on Anna Levine’s book All Eyes on Alexandra.
December 15th @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdra’s blog where she features Anna Levine’s book All Eyes on Alexandra in a spotlight post.
http://www.astorybookworld.com/
December 17th @ World of My Imagination
Stop by Nicole’s blog today where you can read her review of Anna Levine’s book All Eyes on Alexandra.
http://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com
December 19th @ Cassandra’s Writing World
Visit Cassandra’s blog again where you can read Anna Levine’s blog post about naming your characters.
https://cassandra-mywritingworld.blogspot.com
December 19th @ Linda’s Blog
Make sure you visit Linda’s blog today where you can read her thoughts about Anna Levine’s book All Eyes on Alexandra.
https://www.lindaleekane.com/blog
December 20th @ Word Magic: All About Books
Visit Fiona’s blog where you can read her review of Anna Levine’s book All Eyes on Alexandra.
http://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/
December 21st @ Bring on Lemons
Make sure you grab some lemonade and stop by Crystal’s blog today where she reviews Anna Levine’s book All Eyes on Alexandra.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/
December 27th @ Linda’s Blog
Visit Linda’s blog again where you can read her interview with author Anna Levine.
https://www.lindaleekane.com/blog
December 28th @ Beverley A. Baird’s Blog
Visit Beverley’s blog today you can read her review of Anna Levine’s book All Eyes on Alexandra.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/
December 31st @ Strength 4 Spouses
Visit Wendi’s blog and read Anna Levine’s guest post on learning about families and different cultures.
January 2nd @ Author Anthony Avina’s Blog
Visit author Anthony Avina’s blog where he shares his thoughts about Anna Levine’s picture book All Eyes on Alexandra.
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com
January 3rd @ Beverley A. Baird’s Blog
Visit Beverley’s blog again where you can read Anna Levine’s blog post about getting into the head of your middle-grade characters.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/
January 4th @ Author Anthony Avina’s Blog
Visit author Anthony Avina’s blog again where you can read Anna Levine’s blog post about using fiction to write non-fiction.
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com
January 7th @ Strength 4 Spouses Blog
Visit Wendi’s blog again where you can read her thoughts about the book All Eyes on Alexandra by Anna Levine.