ADVENTURES WITH ANNABELLE AND MAISIE by Julie Wenzlick Genre: Children's Rhyming Picture Book ***Spotlight -- Guest Post: Learn how the Author's Grandchildren inspired her story -- Giveaway***



The Day Annabelle Was Bitten By a Doodlebug

by Julie Wenzlick

Genre: Children's Rhyming Picture Book


When pre-schooler Annabelle awakens one morning, she has a strange urge to start doodling.

She calls for paper and pen and begins doodling continuously, unable to stop—even for meals! Her concerned parents take her to the doctor, who discovers a doodlebug bite on her neck.

He assures them her doodling urges will end when the bite fades away. Annabelle gets so good at doodling she opens a shop to sell her work and even travels the world to share her art.

Then one day the bite fades and so do her uncontrollable urges.



Guest Post
Granddaughters Provide Inspiration 
 by Julie Wenzlick


As any grandparent knows, watching our little ones is highly entertaining! And for an aspiring author—inspirational! My second book in the Annabelle and Maisie series, The Day Maisie Picked a Daisy, initially began as just a title—after all, Maisie rhymes with Daisy, so the title was the easy part. As I watched my granddaughters circle the house together in a single Barbie corvette, I couldn’t help but imagine them off on a great adventure together. Before I knew it, the first chunk of the story wrote itself. I created Miss Millie and her garden and her ominous sign: Do NOT Pick the Daisies. The Daisies are Mine! 

  

But there I was, wondering WHAT exactly would happen if Maisie DID pick one of those daisies?

I pondered this question for many days, until I decided to go with a deep plunge into the ground. I knew I wanted there to be something MAGICAL down there, but again I was stuck.

I discussed the situation with Annabelle, who was 6 years old at the time. “Annabelle, what would be something or someone magical that could be under the ground in this beautiful place full of daisies?”

“How about a WIZARD, Grammie?”

Eureka! Annabelle had broken through my writer’s block and provided just the idea that propelled the story to its conclusion. By associating the Wizard of Daisies with Miss Millie, and explaining that he was the one who gave her the green thumb, I was then able to create some suspense and just enough of a fright for my young readers as the wizard threatens to clip off Miss Millie’s thumb. 

  

My young audiences love seeing this video clip that inspired The Day Maisie Picked a Daisy, and I hope you will, too! Turn up the sound—Maisie has a tiny voice with a loving message that always results in a loud, “Awwwwwww,” from my audience.







The Day Maisie and Annabelle Got the Giggles
by Julie Wenzlick

Genre: Children's Rhyming Picture Book 


After sisters Annabelle and Maisie meet the gigglepuss outside on the trampoline, they suddenly can’t stop giggling. Their dad has a hard time believing they met a gigglepuss, calling it “mythical nonsense.” But as time passes and they giggle harder and harder, there’s no choice but to take them to the doctor, who provides an unpleasant but effective remedy. Wonder who else in the family will encounter that rascally gigglepuss?




The Day Maisie Picked a Daisy 
by Julie Wenzlick

Genre: Children's Rhyming Picture Book


When big sister Annabelle decides to go against Mom’s rules and take little sister Maisie Grace for a ride in her pink Barbie Corvette, she has no idea of the adventure that lies ahead! Join these wandering sisters as they explore Miss Millie’s garden and fail to obey the sign: Do NOT pick the Daisies! What will happen when Maisie unknowingly plucks one daisy from the garden?


About the Author

Julie Wenzlick is a retired English teacher who loves to rhyme. She began writing poems and stories in second grade, and she loves to share her books with elementary students in hopes of inspiring them to write their own stories. Three of her books were inspired by her granddaughters Annabelle and Maisie. She often gets the question from her young audiences, "Did this REALLY happen?" Her book "The Day Annabelle was Bitten by a Doodlebug" was chosen as Honorable Mention in the Writer's Digest Children's Book category for 2017. Julie, who also writes songs to go with her books, produced her original full-length musical comedy "Singles File," in the early 90s at three venues. You can find out more about her at juliewenzlick.com



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