Category Archives: Kidlit

May21

SAILING SEASON START-UP on the PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST

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SAILING SEASON START-UP on the PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST

SAILING/BOATING FAMILIES ALERT!

It is the May long weekend (Victoria Day) in Canada and boaters are out on the waters for the start-up of the season.  PRAIRIE GIRL is wondering if you have your copy of WHO’S the CAPTAIN? aboard your vessels? Remember what Pacific Yachting’s Book Reviewer (Cherie Thiessen) had to say,

“There’s something to resonate here for every sailor- or sailor wannabe, I’m betting.”

And then there is the endorsement from David Eggert (Director of Development and Relief Captain), SALTS Sail and Life Training Society- “Training Young People, By the Sea, for Life”,

“I loved the book. Great humor and fantastic illustrations.  Most certainly to be enjoyed by cruising families.”

Why is WHO’S the CAPTAIN? a must

… Read the rest
Dec20

FREE FRENCHIE SERIES – AN AMAZON KINDLE GIFT SET DEC.26th-30th

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FREE FRENCHIE SERIES – AN AMAZON KINDLE GIFT SET DEC.26th-30th

My gift to my followers during the HOLIDAY SEASON (DEC. 26-30) is the opportunity to access the FRENCHIE SERIES  (Books 1-3) for FREE on Amazon Kindle.  FRENCHIE’S BEST FRIEND- Follow the Blog is definitely a family Christmas read– you’ll understand why when you read this tale with a twist. The Frenchie Series is suitable for kids who aged 8-13 (Middle Grade Readers… TWEENS)! (or anyone who is a doggie person… and loves to laugh) Although the books are VERY reasonably priced (less than a greeting card)- they are available free on Kindle for 5 days. Please download all 3 books of the Frenchie Series and accept my gift to you! (Dec. 26-30)

MARY LAUDIEN’S FRENCHIE SERIES

… Read the rest
Nov28

TENDER TUESDAYS

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TENDER TUESDAYS

SILVER LINING in WHO’S the CAPTAIN?

BOOK LAUNCH

THE BOOK LAUNCH DAYDREAM VERSUS REALITY

You can imagine it, can’t you? The venue chosen is unique, as the perfect spot for drawing the niche of people for which one’s book was written. (MARTIN MARINE –so ideal as a long established North Shore family business that boaters frequent.) It’s in a community that both the author and illustrator had lived in and sailed from, as contributors for many years. Thus, a full house of familiar faces was anticipated coming through the door to share in the celebration of their book. Perfect! Right? (Reality Check: Perfect on a sunny spring day- YES! Maybe not so perfect on a cold, … Read the rest

Nov23

IT’S a BOOK LAUNCH in a MARINE STORE!

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IT’S a BOOK LAUNCH in a MARINE STORE!

HEAD– It’s the BOAT TOILET, okay?

FINALLY! A FAMILY SAILING BOOK that cracks the code of nautical terms through humourous cartoons and a cheeky glossary! Mary Laudien, a fourth time B.C. children’s author and former Principal of West Bay and Cypress Park, has just released, WHO’S the CAPTAIN? Anyone who has ever sailed or cruised with kids aboard will relate to the cartoons and reminiscing of those adventures on the water will be inevitable!

mary-anim-character

Mary didn’t start sailing until her late forties, missing out on the fun of cruising with her sons, as children. Many of her school families had extraordinary sailing adventures to share with her. As she cruised the Pacific NW on their Catalina … Read the rest

Nov10

AHOY ALL BOATING FAMILIES!

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AHOY ALL BOATING FAMILIES!

A BOOK LAUNCH & SIGNING EVENT

at

MARTIN MARINE

WHO’S the CAPTAIN?

FINALLY! A FAMILY SAILING BOOK that cracks the code of nautical terms through humorous cartoons and a sassy glossary!  A delightful and recognizable story for any family that sails together.

– Written by Mary Laudien, a 4th time B.C. children’s author and former Principal of West Bay and Cypress Park.
– Cartoons by the talented, Dave Alavoine of Pacific Yachting Magazine’s COCKPIT CONFESSION.
whos_the-_captain_cover-336widejpg-1 

DATE: Saturday, November 26th

TIME: 12:30 – 2:00

LOCATION: Martin Marine Services Ltd., 1176 Welch Street, North Vancouver

BOOK PRICE: only $14.99 CDN. ($13.99 USD)

For more information go to: https://www.marylaudien.com or email: mlaudien@outlook.com

DRAWS during the launch program… even

… Read the rest
Nov8

TENDER TUESDAYS

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TENDER TUESDAYS

WHO’S the CAPTAIN? BOOK LAUNCH & SIGNING in a Marine Store!

Mary Laudien has been a super engaged author these days! She and Dave Alavoine are busy preparing for their BOOK LAUNCH of WHO’S the CAPTAIN?  The event will be held at Martin Marine  (1176 Welch Street in North Vancouver) on Saturday, Nov. 26th from 12:30pm-2:00pm. Martin Marine is the PERFECT venue to launch their nautical book, as a long established North Shore ‘family business for boating families’.

Dave Alavoine is a long term North Shore resident, sailor, sailboat builder, former British Merchant Marine…and most importantly, Pacific Yachting Magaizine’s nautical cartoonist! Mary Laudien is a  4th time B.C. children’s author and the former proud principal of West Bay and

… Read the rest
Oct28

FUN KIDLIT FRIDAYS

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FUN KIDLIT FRIDAYS

WHO’S the CAPTAIN? is FINALLY AVAILABLE!

What is FUN KIDLIT FRIDAYS?

It’s a Picture Book/ Middle Grade Book Review post that will be shared every other Friday.  I intended to start this much sooner, but publishing WHO’S the CAPTAIN? seemed to take over my life for the last year.  Now that it’s finally available, I can start posting regularly the picture books and early novels that I cherished reading with students when I was a teacher/principal in West Vancouver schools.  I know many of you are always seeking out worthwhile, entertaining reads for you to share with your kids or grand-kids.  That’s the purpose of FUN KIDLIT FRIDAYS... to introduce you to KIDLIT that’s FUN! I‘ll … Read the rest

Oct4

TENDER TUESDAYS

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TENDER TUESDAYS

KOMBUCHA PUSHER

My kitchen has been transformed into a Kombucha factory! Before I know it, husband will be starting up a new business.

kombucha_lab

Some of you reading this may not even know WHAT this brew actually is! Simply defined: it’s a fermented tea, that hasn’t, necessarily, a “proven” health benefit… Nevertheless, husband is holding onto the miracle of hair growth- preferably on the TOP of his HEAD! So far I’ve noticed a significant sprouting of new growth hairs: nose hairs,… nostril hairs,… ear hairs… since he started up his KOMBUCHA production process.

Nonetheless, husband’s persevering, even though he may have just missed that opportunity with his timing. Hopefully it isn’t too late for his fine- haired, balding … Read the rest

Sep27

TENDER TUESDAYS – PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #7

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TENDER TUESDAYS – PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #7

IMPATIENT TO CRUISE

Husband and Prairie Girl couldn’t wait for any opportunity to take the ON EDGE out on the water. Two busy professionals had to scramble to find extended periods of time to take off on their annual two week sailing vacation at the end of each July.  They would be so covetous of their time on the water that they usually chose to ignore the weather warnings.  Sometimes this worked in their favor, and other times…not so much! Prairie Girl ALWAYS trusted husband’s decision-making! (After all, he wouldn’t be trying to OFF his new wife, now would he?) Husband is responsible, but when getting out on the water might mean a delay, his common sense might have … Read the rest

Sep20

TENDER TUESDAYS – PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #6

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TENDER TUESDAYS – PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #6

The Y KNOT Gets a NEW Name!      yknewbottompaint

Husband and Prairie Girl just didn‘t like the name of their new (old) boat. The Y KNOT was just a little too common, even though they could justify it as a cheeky response to their impulsive sailboat purchase, in the first place. They’d had several brainstorming sessions over the winter months, trying to find the “just right” name, but to no avail.

Finally, their scheduled two week cruise mid-summer arrived, and the Y Knot had been provisioned, complete with a new shower bag to use while in anchorages. The crossing from West Van to the Gulf Islands was smooth and everything seemed perfect. (Seemed is the key word here.) They had … Read the rest