Tags
Chapter Book, Ed Raarup, Fireflies and Shooting Stars, Lindsay D. Nery, Moon Watch Productions, The Tale of Enzo
I had the pleasure of meeting Ed Raarup at the 2013 SCBWI Winter Conference in New York. I don’t usually read chapter books, but I was so impressed with the story, illustrations, and original songs (Broadway caliber!) for Fireflies and Shooting Stars that I had to blog about it … and offer a FREE GIVEAWAY!
Fireflies and Shooting Stars “The Tale of Enzo”
by Ed Raarup, Illustrated by Lindsay D. Nery
Fireflies and Shooting Stars is a heart-warming tale about Enzo, a little firefly who was born without a tail light.
It’s obvious Enzo is different from the other young fireflies, and the challenges this brings sets Enzo on a fantastic journey to find his own light. Enzo’s determination takes him on a magical flight of hope, understanding, and self-discovery, as he realizes the power of his uniqueness and the importance of accepting the differences in others as well as himself.
A Heart-Warming Story with Universal Appeal
What hooked me on this story was its universal appeal and positive message. I immediately empathized with Enzo, a firefly born without a tail light, and cheered for him on his journey to become whole. Though the true power of the story came when Enzo realized he doesn’t need a tail light, that his greatest gift shines from within. We are all “different” in one way or another, and the theme of self-acceptance and embracing the differences in others are important lessons to learn … at any age.
The luminous illustrations Lindsay D. Nery created for Fireflies and Shooting Stars (full-color throughout) bring Enzo and his family and friends to life, while drawing us into their magical world of fun and adventure. Their visual appeal add depth to the story, and shine in their own right.
Plus a Broadway Caliber Musical!
It’s rare that you find a strong story with musical accompaniment to match. Music plays an important role in (the story) Fireflies and Shooting Stars, and the accompanying CD is nothing short of amazing. The twelve original Broadway caliber songs are performed by professional talent. Seriously, folks. This musical score is on par with “Annie”, maybe better.
A Brilliant GivEaway!
For a chance to win a copy of the awesome Fireflies and Shooting Stars, here’s what you do:
- Leave a comment on this blog by midnight Sunday, March 3rd (1 entry).
- Tweet this blog post (1 entry).
- Share this blog post on Facebook (1 entry).
- In your blog comment, mention your tweets and shares (if any).
On March 4th, I’ll tally your score and enter your name once for each entry, then draw a winner at random and announce the winner on this blog Wednesday, March 6th.
NOTE: Sorry, but this contest is only for residents in the continental United States, due to shipping costs.
Elizabeth Fais 
Wow, this sounds like a fantastic book! I love it when I stumble across such gems, especially ones with vibrant illustrations and a CD. And how generous of you to offer one in a giveaway. 🙂
I’m amazed at the careful attention to detail with every aspect of this book. The story, illustrations, and music are fantastic, to be sure. But the materials and packaging were just as carefully thought out. The book is a generous size so it’s easy to read, and the sturdy cover and heavy weight paper are meant to withstand the rigors of young readers. 😉
It sounds great — I’ll look out for it here. (I tweeted and facebooked because I think it’s cool.)
Thank you, Ellen! It really is as terrific as it sounds. 😉
Bravo to Ed Raarup for believing in his dream, and seeing it through to fruition.
Yes, indeed! He did the project with true professionalism from start to finish. It’s a gem of a reading-listening experience.
Gorgeous book and I especially love the title–which just so happens, includes two of my very favorite things! Not to mention, Ed, sounds like a pretty amazing and dedicated author.
Tweeted & facebooked with pleasure!
Funny coincidence, my daughter has a tailless cat named, Enzo!
Your daughter’s tailless cat named Enzo is PERFECT!
Yes, it is a terrific book, and so nicely done. Thanks for the tweets and share. Supporting other dedicated authors is what the WANA community is all about. 😉
I am enjoying reading this book to my son. I love the colorful pictures and the way the story is written. It flows beautifully. As an author of my first picture book, called “EJ’s Playgroup” that promotes inclusions for babies and toddlers in an early intervention program, I hope one day that an excited publisher or a production company offers me an opportunity to have this book published.
The author of Fireflies and Shooting Stars published the book himself. He did it the “right way”, hiring a freelance editor, professional illustrator and the like. You can contact him through his web site, or the email address in the book. He’s very personable and would likely share advice so you can do the same.