Category Archives: picture book

Jul30

TENDER TUESDAYS- PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #29

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TENDER TUESDAYS- PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #29

NEW BOAT HEEBEE – JEEBEES

Did Prairie Girl have a premonition of something going awry on their virgin cruise aboard the TwoCan XL?  One might have  wondered after such a long dry spell of stories in the Prairie Girl Series. As you will recall, husband was ecstatic with his purchase of the 2006 Beneteau343 last fall.  He spent from March to mid June, getting acquainted with it- meaning – he pulled it completely apart from the V Berth to the stern, knowing where everything was on the boat and how it all worked.  Yes, he is a thorough man and has declared himself the Beneteau 343 expert in their marina. (Personally, Prairie Girl believes that he actually lives … Read the rest

Feb2

VALENTINES’ DAY PRESSURE

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VALENTINES’ DAY PRESSURE

TENDER TUESDAYS- Prairie Girl Series #24

Each year, husband constantly reminds his Prairie Girl  how much he dislikes Valentines’ Day.  Why, you ask? Well, the long and the short of it is that he has an issue with feeling obligated to create a ‘HALLMARK MOMENT’ when someone else deems it necessary. Prairie Girl calls it his “BAH HUMBUG” syndrome. He pretty much feels this way about any contrived gift-giving celebration.  Now don’t get the wrong impression, it isn’t that he resents giving a gift and a card, (although one might regard husband as somewhat frugal); its really about being expected to celebrate something that he hasn’t bought into.  Prairie Girl understands his sentiments, but she does not let him … Read the rest

Apr17

TENDER TUESDAYS-PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #19

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TENDER TUESDAYS-PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #19

PRIMED FOR SAILING SEASON

How did it happen to be mid-April already?   Some of Prairie Girl’s and husband’s friends already had their boats hauled out in March and have them in tip top shape, ready to sail when the weather clears up. They’ll be out on the water in a flash.

Not so for this sailor and her Captain. They’ve actually cancelled their haul- out twice now, believing they didn’t have a good weather window. Wrong! The sun shone after the morning showers and husband freaked out that he had let his coveted haul-out spot go. When will it possibly get done with the many Yacht Club executive meetings and regattas (He is a Vice Commodore, after all…) and … Read the rest

Aug28

TENDER TUESDAYS- PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #15

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TENDER TUESDAYS- PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #15

WILL WE EVER SAIL AGAIN?

Last year’s sailing season turned out to  be a bust for husband and Prairie Girl. Husband had a 2 week window in his incredibly insane work schedule. And wouldn’t you know it? On their first night out, anchoring in a local, familiar bay- they hit a ROCK! (Refer to Prairie Girl Series #1 2016/07/27 in the archives.)

As you’re aware from former posts, husband’s 93 year old mother was hospitalized the week that he was discharged from the hospital after his emergency surgery. Let’s just say, the TwoCan wasn’t getting any attention whatsoever, the entire spring! (Other than the new installation of a windlass and a bigger dinghy…) Sadly for their family, husband’s mother passed … Read the rest

Aug16

GOOD OLD BOAT NEWSLETTER BOOK REVIEW AUGUST 2017

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GOOD OLD BOAT NEWSLETTER BOOK REVIEW AUGUST 2017

It has happened again! WHO’S the CAPTAIN? has been reviewed by GOOD OLD BOAT’S Newsletter Reviewer, Carolyn Corbett.  I am so thrilled with how she caught the complete essence of this humorous picture book targeted for  boating families, that I just had to share it with you!

GOOD OLD BOAT -August 2017 Newsletter

 

WHO’S THE CAPTAIN?

BY MARY LAUDIEN, ILLUSTRATIONS BY DAVE ALAVOINE (CREATESPACE, 2016; 56 PAGES, PRINT $13.99 USD/$14.99 CDN; EBOOK $7.99)

REVIEW BY CAROLYN CORBETT (LAKE SHORE, MN)

Who’s the Captain? is a 56 page picture book of sailing life according to Dad and his crew. The humor in the text is accentuated by clever, colorful cartoons. Older kids who are familiar with the ins and outs

… Read the rest
Aug7

Pacific Yachting Magazine (08/17) Book Review: WHO’S the CAPTAIN?

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Pacific Yachting Magazine (08/17) Book Review: WHO’S the CAPTAIN?

 

Imagine Prairie Girl’s delight when she opened up her August copy of PACIFIC YACHTING MAGAZINE and found a half page BOOK REVIEW of WHO’S the CAPTAIN?  it embraced the magic of the collaboration between David Alavoine (PY’s cartoonist/ COCKPIT CONFESSIONS page) and myself in creating a humorous book that would appeal to all members of sailing/boating families.

Both storyteller and illustrator must have been synced closely during this collaboration, as Alavoine’s cartoons seem to mirror so closely the mood of each of Laudien’s vignettes.

There’s something to resonate here for every sailor- or sailor wannabe, I’m betting. Laudien has fun with some of the curious and puzzling nautical terms and how they can be misconstrued, with family dynamics, and

… Read the rest
Jun28

WHO’S the CAPTAIN? BOOK REVIEW in 48° North Magazine

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WHO’S the CAPTAIN? BOOK REVIEW in 48° North Magazine

DO YOU HAVE YOUR COPY OF WHO’S the CAPTAIN? ABOARD to SHARE with YOUR KIDS/GRANDKIDS?

It is just too rewarding to see sailing magazines and yacht clubs embracing WHO’S the CAPTAIN?  They are always so immediate with their response and wanting to share the book with their boating families. It’s the time of year that young sailors are taking sailing lessons and boarding family sailboats for sailing vacations.  What a perfect book to have on board! (Okay, I, the author of this little gem may be just a little biased, but as a former innovative educator I know what an engaging book this is.)

As Cherie Thiessen (Pacific Yachting’s Book Reviewer) stated,

“There’s something to resonate here for every sailor

… Read the rest
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
May16

TENDER TUESDAYS- PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #13

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TENDER TUESDAYS- PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #13

PRAIRIE GIRL CAN’T JOIN A YACHT CLUB!

(THEY MIGHT THINK SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE’S DOING ON A SAILBOAT!)

Moving to Vancouver Island meant finding a location that was handy to the marina, so that husband and Prairie Girl could get to the boat easily for maintenance and quick decision day sails and get-aways. Looking back on the last 6 years, it didn’t quite work out as perfectly as planned. It’s true the boat was within walking distance of their new home, but with husband still working, Prairie Girl writing and publishing books, and extensive travel (both work and pleasure related), the TwoCan hasn’t always had the usage one anticipated with the move.

Shortly after moving, husband was approached by SCYC … Read the rest

Dec13

TENDER TUESDAYS-Prairie Girl Series #10

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TENDER TUESDAYS-Prairie Girl Series #10

Happy Anniversary Prairie Girl–

                   We’ve Bought a New Boat!

For those of you who have been following the Prairie Girl posts on Tender Tuesdays, you’ll recall the post, “WE BOUGHT an OLD TUB! … REALLY?… REALLY!” I won’t mention which Yachting magazine is publishing it on their last page of the January Issue… but some of you will figure it out, I’m sure… The reason I mention it, other than the fact that I’m proud to have it published, is because Prairie Girl and husband sold their OLD TUB (after completely refurbishing it and enjoying several memorable seasons with it). Hence, the title of this post–“HAPPY ANNIVERSAY PRAIRIE GIRL– WE’VE BOUGHT A NEW BOAT!”        newsailboat

One … Read the rest