Bonita Springs, FL (USA), Nov 01, 2014 -- From protecting wildlife to overcoming disabilities and bullying, retired professional singer Lisa Batch (aka Lisa Manning Batchelder) wants to teach children valuable lessons through her books, but mostly she wishes to entertain them. She’s partnered with Halo Publishing International to release “Rosie Babysits, A Roseate Spoonbill Story” and “Star’s Journey.”
“I’ve travelled around the world singing for nearly 50 years, and when I retired I missed entertaining people and I needed a creative outlet,” says Batch. “I hope my books and music bring lots of smiles and giggles.”
“Rosie Babysits, A Roseate Spoonbill Story” tells a whimsical tale about a real species of bird. The comical story ends with a glossary of photographs of Floridian wildlife, like the roseate spoonbill, manatee and shark, so children can associate the characters in the book with their true-life counterparts. They also learn how to protect the wildlife around them. A book about a roseate spoonbill is rare, and Rosie and her brother Billy are one-of-a-kind characters. “I heard that Disney is making a movie about a vulture. What about a Disney movie starring Rosie?” says Batch.
In “Star’s Journey,” the book is interactive for either a classroom setting with hand gestures and movements or a soothing bedtime story that includes hugs. It’s a story about a visually impaired pony that masters his fears and gains friends in the process. Young children will learn valuable lessons about being a friend, overcoming personal obstacles/disabilities, the value of work, and the importance of not giving up.
“I was inspired to write “Star’s Journey” because I volunteer with a lady who has vision issues and who runs benefits for the Foundation Fighting Blindness,” says Batch. “Children need to know that it’s okay to be different, and it’s good to be friends with someone who has a disability. Let’s remember that a person may have difficulty in one area but shine in another. In the book, while playing hide & seek, the pony has difficulty seeing, but his other senses, hearing and smell, are keener to compensate.”
“These stories are creative and the illustrations are stunning,” says Halo Publisher Lisa M. Umina. The illustrators, Mallette Pagano and Brian Peters, bring the books to life with an illustration on every page.”
Batch also released a CD with a narration followed by seven songs for children called, “Star’s Journey, Narration and Songs.” She is singing the songs she wrote and the narration is by professional voice-over artist, Robert Gillies.
You can purchase “Star’s Journey”, “Rosie Babysits, A Roseate Spoonbill Story” and the CD through http://www.LisaBatch.com. The hardcover books each cost $15.95 and the CD is $9.95. As a promotion, if you buy two books, the CD is free. You may also buy the books alone through Halo Publishing and Amazon. Ebook will soon carry them for $5.95.
Biography:
Lisa Batch is a member of SCBWI, GCWA and FAA. Raised in Waban, MA, she now lives in FL and RI with her husband, Herb.
###
