Interview with Mom’s Choice Award-Winner Judy Bibbins

Today we were able to get with Judy Bibbins, author of the Mom’s Choice Award-winning book I Have a Gentle Giant. Her book was written to introduce children to the idea of truly unconditional love and friendship, which are big concepts for little ones, Judy wanted to present them in a way that felt more like a friend, a confidant, and protector. She also wanted the illustrations to be whimsical and fun so the book would be a favorite bedtime story or for early readers to enjoy on their own, pulling in the help of illustrator Chris Janelle to make that happen. One of her priorities as a writer is accessibility—whether that means accessibility to the concept of faith or the use of Dyslexi font to provide accessibility to the written word. Read on to see how this author brings all these pieces together in a delightful story for ages 0-7. Read More

Interview with Mom’s Choice Award-Winner Jeanne Bender

Today, we had the opportunity to get with American author Jeanne Bender, who began her writing career at an early age and, thankfully for young readers, decided to create a children’s chapter book series: the Lindie Lou Adventure Series, which received a Mom’s Choice Award. Read More

Interview with Mom’s Choice Award-Winner Alibeth Abreu

Today, we’ll be speaking with Alibeth Abreu, who holds an M.Sc. in Personal Finance and is the author of the MCA-winning children’s picture book, The Great Money Adventure. Her book lets readers (ages 6–10) join a group of charming animal friends as they embark on exciting journeys around the world, discovering new cultures and learning valuable lessons about money, saving, and generosity. Through these delightful tales filled with humor, warmth, and imagination, young readers get to explore the basics of financial literacy. Read More

Interview with Mom’s Choice Award-Winner Rebecca Albarado, M.Ed.

Today we’re delighted to have back with us author Rebecca Albarado, M.Ed., also known as Becky A, who writes, illustrates, and publishes her own books. We’ll be asking her about her Beau Book series, six books that are intended for ages birth to 8 and that are perfect for bedtime, story time, and just any time. She knows that reading to children as babies helps them associate books with love and comfort—and that we can’t start reading early enough to our babies. Read More

Interview with Mom’s Choice Award-Winner Gary Boyer

Today we were able to get with Gary Boyer, the Senior Vice President of Product Development at Lucid Hearing—the company that launched the Mom’s Choice Award-winning product, HearMuffs. So much more than a “child-like” version of an adult product, HearMuffs offer advanced protection against loud and harmful noises, ensuring a child’s precious hearing is preserved. Read More

Interview with Mom’s Choice Award-Winner Allen Brokken

Today we’re delighted to have with us once again author Allen Brokken, who developed the hugely popular six-volume Towers of Light adventure series. Allen has recently garnered another Mom’s Choice Award for a sleep aid that’s perfect for help young children effortlessly drift off at bedtime or nap time. Called the Sleepy Tiger Soothing Sounds Wildlife Story Teller, this ultra-soft plush toy has a secret pouch that holds the MegaVoice Soothing Sounds audio Bible player—offering Bible stories appropriate for children ages 3 to 7, plus soothing sounds to help kids sleep. In addition, research shows that stuffed animals with audio Bible inside can bring physical and emotional comfort to both children and adults who have experienced trauma and pain—and help them get a good night’s sleep. Read More

Interview with Mom’s Choice Award-Winner Mark Blakey

Today we had a chance to get with Mark Blakey, the founder of Autism Parenting Magazine, a publication aimed at improving the quality of life for families effected by autism and for which he won his most recent Mom’s Choice Award. Articles by respected professionals discuss improving communication and behavioral issues, groundbreaking genetic discoveries, and other issues of interest to families dealing with neurodevelopment disorders. Clearly, there is a sizable audience for this work: Mark’s latest Autism Parenting Summit, conducted virtually, received 50,000 attendees. Although today’s guest doesn’t believe in a magic formula that will work for everyone on the spectrum, he believes that children and adults with autism can be independent and lead successful lives. Read More

Interview with Mom’s Choice Award-Winner Magnus Karlsson

Today we have with us Magnus Karlsson, a designer with Fireside Games, who recently designed the Mom’s Choice Award-winning game Zoomies. In the highly competitive gaming industry, designers are known to need a strong creative vision, which Magnus clearly possesses. But he’s quick to say that getting from idea to finished product is really a team effort. He also views board games as a medium for bringing people together. Read on to discover his role in accomplishing that. Read More

Interview with Mom’s Choice Award-Winner Anne-Marie De Witt

Today we have back with us Anne-Marie De Witt, the co-creator of Firesign Games, whose latest—Ultimatch—recently won a Mom’s Choice Award. These popular games, created by Anne-Marie and her husband, Justin (also featured in an earlier interview), let players work together in games known for quick play and collaborative decision-making that some call “positively addicting.” Read More