Zanib Mian's Blog

Does your dad have a beard? Mine does! Sometimes we forget to give them some beard love--but not today! Here are ten ways you can make your dad feel cool about his beard.

1. Tell him he looks like a bearded version of The Incredible Hulk, except less green (we hope)!

2. Inform him that Scientists have just found out that beards are good for your health and can actually help produce antibiotics – the type of medicine that kills bacteria!

3. Tell him that throughout history, a beard was the most epic form of manhood. In Ancient Egypt, the rich and powerful grew beards which were often dyed and sometimes plaited with interwoven gold thread. And The Spartans punished cowards by shaving off a portion of their beards.

4. Point out that he looks much better with the beard than he does in old photos where he doesn’t have one.

5. Tell him beards are trendy.

6. Tell him there is a book dedicated to the sheer awesomeness of beards.

7. Hold a contest for the best beard in town and give your dad the prize.

8. Remind him that Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States had a beard, and he was pretty cool.

9. Draw a picture of your dad's beard and go all out, making into a collage or a paper mache masterpiece!

10. Get him a really macho looking beard oil.

So there you have it! Your dad now feels very cool about his beard! Don't forget to do the same for your uncles and grandads!

Hundreds of children have called helplines; others are expressing fears and looking for answers from loved ones; and many many more are harbouring unexpressed anxieties after the attacks in Paris. Here's an infographic that will help.

Many of us assume we are shielding our children from the horrors when we choose not talk about these issues with them. This is completely understandable, and if they have somehow missed all the talk of recent events, then perhaps not informing them may be an option. However, we can only make that assumption based on the fact that they haven't talked about it themselves. Often children don't initiate conversations about what is bothering them, and you may be surprised to learn what's on their minds.

The NSPCC have said that children are calling ChildLine with worries that there will be similar attacks in Britain, and some have come from young Muslims facing abuse after these events.

This infographic addresses fears and sheds light on some questions that young ones may have. We hope it will prove to be a useful tool.

ParisParis attacksChildrenTalking to children

Guest Blog
Two Little Boys and a Mummy Who Can
By Maria Mian Goncalves
The love of illustrating

I love to draw—that’s the only thing that comes to mind when I’m asked how I manage to find time to write or illustrate children’s books while being a mum to two cheerful, mischievous and amazing boys under the age of three. It’s like a craving! I must find time for it. Simple. What drives me to sit down and scribble out some drawings; is that the desire to do it so strong that if I don’t I might just burst! I’ve always been a creative person and one of the ways I can express myself and just be me is when I’ve got a pen, pencil or paintbrush in my hand. It’s a release for me: an opportunity to escape to a new world. I find it something similar to reading a good book, which allows one to imagine oneself inside the story. So, even if it’s just in between swiping (yet another) building block or toy car off the floor and stopping a smiley face from ending up on the living room wall instead of on the paper, I’ll always find time to illustrate!

Time management

My boys are my life: they come first. So there are times when a couple of weeks or more go by and we are so busy that I haven’t even touched a pencil (though I’ll be itching to). My boys are both at home with me as I decided that’s the way we were most happy till they are of an age to start nursery. But of course to get projects finished—to a standard that my fussy self is happy with—I do need to organise my days so that I can have some quiet time set to concentrate and knock out some new pages. So the way I found that I was able to get a decent amount of illustrating done was to firstly make sure my kids are well entertained and satisfied! I take them to playgroups weekly and try my best to engage them at home through play and creative fun! Then when they’ve had enough of me and are ready to play by themselves or are ready for a nap; I run to my drawer and eagerly pull out my latest project and start putting ideas down. The only reason I’m able to (finally) write this is because my boys have both fallen asleep on the sofa. A rare occasion which certainly needed taking advantage of!

It isn’t easy to be a mum to two toddlers and work from home, even though their father is very hands-on when he gets home from work. Sometimes the task seems impossible, but it’s just a matter of making a start and taking it day by day; or sketch by sketch! It is certainly rewarding when you’re done and see what you are capable of and even more so when you see that others are enjoying your work.

Inspiration and Illustrative Style

My inspirations come from the things around me, and my experiences. It could be from a person I saw on the street; or a memory that’s come up from my childhood; or a particular frame of mind I’ve felt in a new place. Sometimes I’ll just sit down with a pen and some paper and draw to see what I come up with!

My illustration style is still quite varied. I like to explore and try out new things—especially since I’m still finding ‘my style.’ Presently I would describe it as quirky, retro and cute. I almost always start an idea off in pen, then let it develop in whatever media fits the picture. I like to mix media; going back and forth till a page looks right. I’m a big fan of print (probably due to my background in fashion design). I love to add character to illustrations of people through attire and hair! I adore traditional illustrations and they probably Influence my style a fair bit. A favourite is most definitely Mary Blair. Her work is so colourful and fun, her compositions just perfect, and characters so lovable. Jessie Wilcox Smith is another favourite—although her illustrations of everyday life portray the ordinary—they hold such wonder, warmth, joy and comfort in them. More recent illustrators I admire are Joey Chou and Julia Sarda! They produce absolutely beautiful artwork!

Future Projects

Ohhhhhh I could go on here a bit and take you into my dream world of my many hopes and aspirations, but I will resist and save you from a lengthy list, and (ahem) save myself from sounding like an outrageous crazy woman! Let me just say I am always open to projects that will give my creative side a release! I will definitely be continuing work with my favourite publishers--Sweet Apple! I’m working on some picture book projects that are slowly but surely coming to, and will hopefully be in print in the near future! Animation is another possibility that is being ventured! I plan to start blogging about illustration soon, so please do keep a look out for me! And once my boys are in school…well let's just say, my mind wanders to many new projects' excited by the opportunities that that free time will open for me.

By Maria Mian Goncalves

Contact Maria at maria.goncalves@sweetapplebooks.com

Please get involved with #TheWorldsDadsAreWithYou campaign for orphans

Illustrationillustratemummyparentingworking mums

How to be Happy
How to be Happy











It’s the million dollar question, right? Those who know me often express admiration of my constant elated mood. Here’s how I pull it off!

Forgive

Grudges are nasty little things; left festering, they will eat you alive. Work yourself through what’s bothering you and learn to forgive. You’ll like yourself much better. In line with this: let things go. At first you may have to force yourself not to care about little things which are easier to let go, but then it will come naturally. Ok, so somebody at the supermarket shot you an unpleasant look – let it go; smile at them without a semblance of irritation – it will annoy the pants off of them.

Look at the worst-case-scenario in any situation

When faced with a perceived problem; ask yourself--what is the worst that could happen? More often than not, the worst really isn’t the end of the world. Learn to see it that way.

Be nice

Being a big old grump, by treating others discourteously, never made anyone happy. In fact; the poisonous fumes of grumpiness diffuse efficiently around the room you’re in – causing the bad mood to be reflected back on you. That makes you grumpier. It’s a vicious cycle.

Smile

It’s amazing what a smiley face can do! Try it! Here are some of the benefits:

• It makes you a billion times more good-looking

• It makes you look five to ten years younger

• It makes you feel happy

• It makes other people smile

• It makes people warm to you

• It makes people stop and give you way at a junction

• It certainly makes people wonder what you're smiling about

• 4 out of 5 times, by smiling warmly, you made someone’s day

• It turns Copper to Gold.

Ok, the last one’s not true; it doesn’t, but it could! Which brings me to the next point…

Be optimistic

Optimism is positively correlated with happiness. Optimistic people are happy people. The good news is; you can train yourself to become optimistic!

Do something nice for someone for no reason

Maybe what they say is true—there’s no such thing as an unselfish act—because this will have you beaming through and through.

Walk like you’re going somewhere

I can’t explain why this works, but it will! Take big, confident, quick-paced strides. Let me know how it went…

Talk like you’re not going anywhere

Communication is the key to happiness. It ensures you don’t misunderstand your loved ones and colleagues and therefore terminates any chances of grudges forming. Nips them in the bud shall we say.

Exercise

I won’t elaborate. You know. Endorphins et al.

Don’t compare yourself to others

Don’t allow yourself to covet what others have. If you want to make comparisons; look at those who are less fortunate.

Meditate/pray/reflect

Do whatever your spiritual mind demands of you. Question your existence; the meaning of life; just take time out to reflect or meditate. If you are a person of faith, as am I, you will find that utter contentment is found when you are spiritually tuned in.

Do things you love

I am happy when on horseback—in fact I am happiest! Do things that thrill you. This includes work; don’t punish yourself by taking on jobs that you hate doing. And hey, if you can get paid for doing what you love, you’ve hit the jackpot. I have!

Don’t let your happiness depend on others

This last one is very important. There are two types of happiness. 1. Happiness that is brought about because of other people’s attention towards, or praise, for you and 2. Happiness felt independent of outside influences. Number 1 is misery in a box waiting to be opened.

Be happy!

By Zanib Mian, author of My Dad's Beard, Never Too Small and other children's books
HappyHow to be happy

Nooks and crannies: Fig. every small, out-of-the-way place or places where something can be hidden.

As the year ends, I wonder what I would find if I explored every nook and cranny of my heart. Would I find a dusty old grudge, that stubbornly escaped the grudge-vacuum I thought I had assiduously worked throughout the year. Or perhaps an ugly envy-goblin, chomping on low-fat (but high sugar) snacks, in vain attempt to stop it's waist line expanding exponentially. Maybe a few sylphlike aspirations, willowing, in the darkest of corners: unattended; neglected; craving attention. Probably a handsome young unrequited love dangling awkwardly with the tips of it's fingers in hope of climbing back up to a more affluent part of town. Likely, a dam-like fear that ought to be damned; holding back a stream of accomplishments. Maybe a nasty habit, which had been beaten over the head with a heavy object, only, like a cockroach, it refused to die and emerges opportunistically every now and then. Perhaps there will be a forgotten box of thank yous and sorrys, hidden in some crevice, blissfully ignorant of it's expectant recipients. Maybe even something with a most peculiar smell and distinctive but alien features, that I would have to consult the taxonomy department about.

I may not like everything I find; but I will grab a duster and explore every nook and cranny before the year ends. See you all in 2015!

Zanib Mian

2015new yearnew year's resolutionspure heart

make reading fun
make reading fun

Literature is not only a source of entertainment and real pleasure, but it can also serve as an important tool. Introduced at a tender age to the world of books, and with positive associations, a child will learn to love literature and translate this love into academic excellence in later life. But what can we do if our children just don’t want to pick up a book? Here are ten ways to make reading fun for your children, which if implemented, will lead to a life-long love of books.

1. Make a comfy and fun book corner in your home

This could be in the child’s bedroom, or any other place in the house that works for you. Make it a welcoming place that your child will be drawn to and enjoy spending time in. Get creative with this space, and have fun adapting it to your child’s personality! Book quotes posted in the area are a great way to inspire a love for books. Here’s one to get you started:

‘The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.’ – Dr Suess.

2. Lead by example

Our children are cute little copycats. Even when we think they are not paying attention, they are observing us and learning from us. How quickly they imitate us often dawns on us shockingly when we accidently do or say something we don’t want them to copy! The good news is that they do mirror your good habits too! If they see you reading and enjoying books, they will follow suit. Talk to them about your favourite books, and say things like; “I learnt that from the book I’m reading!”

3. Have a good supply of books that represent children like yours

Children will take more interest in reading if they are given books in which they can see themselves. When a child sees books with characters that they can connect with, and about issues that are important to them; they feel that they are understood in the environment that they live in. The child then naturally takes a greater interest in reading.

4. Treat reading as a reward

Always make positive associations with reading. Show your child that reading is a reward, by snuggling up to read with them if they have done something pleasing. This feels like a reward to them as they greatly cherish the time when you hold them close and share a book with them. You can offer them one-to-one reading time or a trip to the library or bookshop as rewards for good behaviour.

Never treat reading as a chore, or worse—a punishment! When children are given reading books from school, it is easy to unknowingly transform the pleasure of reading into a chore that must be completed. Avoid saying things like, “We have to get this reading done.” Instead you could say things like, “I can’t wait to read this!” Most importantly, never used reading as a punishment by sending them off to read, or replacing another activity with reading if you are displeased with them.

5. Take your children to bookshops to choose their own books

Bookshops can be a book lovers playground, and book lovers can be made in bookshops. Especially warm independent bookshops that are run by people with a real passion for books, and are happy to help you find the perfect book for you! There are some real gems out there—magical places that would make any child feel like reading is fun! One such place is Tales on Moon Lane in South East London.

6. Take your child to creative writing workshops where they can meet and be inspired by creators of books

You will notice an almost miraculous transformation of attitude towards books after your little one has been in the presence of an author! It’s simply true for every child. The experience leaves him/her with warm and fresh aspirations for reading and writing. Taking part in a creative writing workshop conducted by an author allows young people to see that books are written by real people just like them, and that writing or illustrating a book is something that they can accomplish too! To register your interest for a children’s creative writing workshop, click here.

7. Use positive reinforcement

This works for anything we want our children to do, and it works for reading too! Reward your little reader for each book they complete to make reading fun. Get creative with ways to do this. One way is to make them a little book (see 10) that they can earn stamps in. Once they have earned enough stamps they get a present, or a reward trip. For children who need immediate gratification, you could have a ‘lucky dip’ that they can fish out a reward from each time they complete a book.

8. Get your child to write a letter to an author who will write back

According to a survey by World Vision, one in five children in the UK has never received a handwritten letter. Child education expert Sue Palmer, the author of Toxic Childhood, said: "If children do not write or receive letters, they miss out on key developmental benefits. Given this information and the fact that children love authors; writing to and receiving a letter from an author will do wonders for the child’s relationship with reading and writing. Post a letter to a Sweet Apple author at the address here.

9. Give books as gifts

Children love receiving gifts as much as the rest of us. The value of any item significantly increases if it is presented wrapped in gorgeous paper and ribbons! If this item is a book, that book will be loved, cherished and viewed as something of great worth. By doing this, a powerful message is sent out to the child telling them that books are special. Write an inscription in the book to give it that personal touch—your kids will love this!

10. Use crafts to make book related items

Most children take great pleasure in plastering various craft materials together to produce an item. Why not associate the fun they have with crafts with reading? Sit down with them to make bookmarks, or a ‘favourite book box.’ You can combine this with tip number seven, to make a book in which they will receive their stamps. You will notice that they will be bouncing at the chance to use these items they have made themselves, which will obviously get them reading!

make reading funreadingliteracychildren's books

board book
baby board book










I started taking my son to the library when he was about six months old, ignoring the bemused looks thrown my way by other parents, or family members. Sharing quality cuddling moments with him and a book led him to naturally incorporate books into his daily routine and as he got older, he continued to associate books with fun. Now that he is twelve, his bookshelf is bulging with all sorts of encyclopedias, fictional and non fictional books, that I was pestered (yes pestered) into buying for him. The great part is that as he grew in reading age, the treasures were passed down to his little brother (whose bookshelf is equally bulging)!
Why read to a newborn he doesn’t understand me?

While your newborn doesn't understand what you're saying, he can still begin to pick up the rhythm, tones and inflections of your voice—that comforting loving voice that your baby started recognising in the womb, and loves to hear! Research shows that the more words a baby is exposed to, the better prepared he is to eventually start reading on his own. Children whose parents frequently talk or read to them know more words by the age of two than children who have not been read to. And children who are read to during their early years are more likely to learn to read at the right time.

What to read to your baby

You must have noticed your baby stares at some colours longer than others. Don't forget, babies love illustrations and art. They can see colours by three months of age and register their favourites—bold primary reds, greens, blues, and yellows.

Other than building vocabulary and memory and listening skills, reading to your baby introduces her to the concepts of stories, numbers, letters, colours, and shapes, and gives him information about the world around him.

For the first few months your baby picks up on the rhythm of language rather than content and may also be fascinated by pictures with bright colours and sharp contrast, so get plenty of board books and picture books. Between 4 and 6 months your baby will begin to show more interest in books and other than delight in your reading to them, will explore them the same way they explore everything at that age—by mouthing, chewing and dropping them. So make sure you choose sturdy books with rounded corners, like our Baby Look Book. Older babies will develop preferences for certain pictures, stories or books and make their favourites clear to you by lighting up when you bring them out and making sounds or pointing at their favourite pictures.

The most important thing is that your baby will love this special time with you, and make a connection between your love and books, which needless to say will leave a lasting positive impact on his relationship with reading.

Who should read to my baby

Every member of the family can and should read to your baby. In fact every different member will bring a varied intonation and inflection of voice which will appeal to the child in different ways.

Research shows that in families, it is the mothers who do most of the reading to children. Campaigns like that run by Booktrust and The National Literacy Trust aim to encourage fathers to enjoy time reading to their child too. Often, an older child’s sentiment is clearly felt, when a father cuddles up to read to them. They clearly value this endearing time when the busy man they love so much drops everything to share a book with them. We have done our part here at Sweet Apple Publishers in that regard too! As we are yet to meet a father who didn’t jump for the chance to read ‘My Dad’s Beard’ to his children!

When and how to read

The fantastic thing about reading is that it is not restricted by time or place. You can enjoy a book with your baby at home, in playgroups, in queues or waiting areas!

Try to make time to read with your baby everyday. Bedtime or naptime is a favourite. Snuggling up with a book read softly settles baby and as part of other bedtime routines, it sets expectations of when it is time to sleep.

At other times of day when your baby is more alert he may participate more actively in the reading, which can give you both moments of joy and connection. As with any activity, your baby will benefit the most at times when he is dry, fed and happy.

As you read, hold your baby close in your safe, warm arms. Read with expression and pitch your voice higher or lower, perhaps doing different voices for different characters. Don’t worry about finishing books, you may choose favourite pages, or just look at and talk about the pictures. Babies love repetition so don’t be afraid to choose the same book often, and allow baby to choose the books himself as he gets older. Also as baby gets older, allow him to hold sturdy vinyl or board books.

I’ve said this before and I’ve noticed it at every reading with my children, no matter how old they are; when you read to a child they have one thing on their mind other than the story—how lucky they are that you love them.

Happy reading!

babyread

diverse book
diverse book

I vividly remember being sat on the carpet of my reception classroom, amongst many of my peers. I was proudly using the set of crayons before me to complete my picture and eagerly taking it to my teacher to show it off.

But when she looked at it, she said, “You haven’t coloured yourself in.”

I was perplexed by this. Surely I didn’t have to because the paper was already white. Surely the teacher must know you don’t have to colour the people in. But I made my way back to the crayons to please her. I picked up the white crayon and coloured in my face in the picture. I presented my work to the teacher again. This time she told me I hadn’t really chosen the correct colour for myself. I clearly remember thinking that my teacher had gone nuts. People were always this colour in pictures. Why was she being so weird and not praising my picture!

How many vivid memories of our early years education do we carry through to adulthood? The only other memory I have of that age is of the twins in my class who we had to identify as ‘Blue Peter. Red David.’ We carry through one or two, if any memories, I’m guessing—thanks to what Sigmund Freud coined as childhood amnesia. So why is this colouring incident so firmly imprinted on my cerebral cortex? Perhaps more importantly, why was I—a Britsh Pakistani—drawing myself as a little white girl? The answer lies in what has over the last few months become a matter of discourse in the publishing world—a lack of diverse books. Of 3,200 children’s books published in 2013, just 93 were about black people, according to a study by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the University of Wisconsin. Of those 3,200 34 were about American Indians, 69 about Asians and 57 about Latinos. Things were obviously no better thirty years ago in the UK (and experts say they still aren’t) when I was making confused colouring choices at school. So it’s hardly surprising that I thought people in pictures were always drawn white. I had most definitely never seen someone that looked like me in a book or a cartoon.

Twenty years later, when my own son was about the same age, I looked for diverse books which represented children like him and families like our own. But, unfortunately, these were extremely scarce. If anything, there were ‘cultural’ books which portrayed ethnic minorities, focusing on a certain aspect or practice exclusive to that culture or religion. But why should these children only be represented in books about their country of origin or religious festivals? I thought these books were a fantastic way to teach children about other cultures and allow children of ethnic minorities to feel that they are understood in the environment in which they live and are a part of. However, I wanted something different. I wanted funny, warm, inspirational, adventurous stories about children doing everyday things. Books that not only identify how these children are different, but celebrate how they are the same!

I wanted to publish diverse books in which my son and others like him could meet characters that looked like him. Characters that they admired and wanted to imitate. I wanted him to see a mother with a head scarf like I wore. I wanted these books to teach good practices, morals and values. And very importantly, I wanted these diverse characters to be portrayed in an unselfconscious manner. I wanted children from ethnicities and religions other than those represented in the book to identify and learn about differences but also identify and relate to many similarities. I felt it important for people like me, with an existing passion for writing, to make a contribution to the publishing of diverse books. As Lin Oliver, the Executive Director of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators says “One of the reasons I’m so eager to read literature written by people with diverse backgrounds is to get their authentic take on their experience.”

So I began writing in 2006 and founded Sweet Apple Publishers in 2011. However, I have only fully been able to devote myself to it recently, after tearing myself away from my other passion--Science!

I wrote stories that derive from my own cultural, racial and religious experiences, as I mentioned, aiming to represent children like my own in books. I am a second generation British Muslim, who was born and raised in London. I identify more with my Muslim and British heritage than I do with my Pakistani heritage, and this is reflected in my books. We at Sweet Apple do want to represent children of all ethnicities and indeed this goes hand in hand with representing Muslim children in books since Muslims come from all parts of the world, with such beautiful diversity in complexions, races, languages, and so forth. Our most recent title, ‘Never Too Small,’ which is now available to pre-order from bookshops, represents children from all walks of life. I am very proud of this book, wonderfully illustrated by Laura Ewing Ferrer.

Needless to say I was very pleased with the awakening of the publishing world to the dearth of diverse books over the last few months. in an article published in ‘The New York Times’ after the above mentioned study, the acclaimed American children's author Walter Dean Myers, who was until recently the US's National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, points out, "Books transmit values. They explore our common humanity. What is the message when some children are not represented in those books?" There has indeed been a recent call for diverse books, highlighted by the recent #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign—a social media campaign raising awareness of and creating solutions for the lack of diverse books.

Our children deserve to find characters like themselves in books. It helps them to grow, build confidence and feel understood in the world of which they are a part. As Rudine Sims Bishop points out in his article, “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Doors,” published in1990 - ““When children cannot find themselves reflected in the books they read, or when the images they see are distorted, negative, or laughable, they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in the society of which they are a part.”

We are working hard here at Sweet Apple Publishers to make our contribution to the world of diverse books and represent more and more children with each publication, and we hope all the different coloured crayons are proudly used to colour in faces in classrooms today!

By Zanib Mian

Diverse booksMuslim charactersethnic diversity

My Dad's Beard front cover
My Dad's Beard front cover








OTHER PHOTOS

To launch Sweet Apple Publishers’ new book, ‘My Dad’s Beard’, which celebrates the special bond between fathers and their children; we are running the #MyDadsBeard campaign. With one month to publication we want to see dads getting creative and sharing amusing, quirky, or even simply sentimental pictures of themselves with their children. We want to see diversity in the people in these pictures and in the types of facial hair too! We want pictures from dads of all ages and backgrounds, with all types and colours of beards, no matter how long or short! We even want to extend the campaign to granddads and uncles, who also get a mention in the new book! Other than having a great time taking pictures with your little ones, you will be in with a chance of winning a signed copy of ‘My Dad’s Beard.’ We are giving away ten of these!

We could not think of starting such a campaign without giving thought to the children Syria. The Syrian conflict has claimed the lives of over 11,000 children, turned more than 1 million into refugees and left more than 4 million in jeopardy.

Many of these children have been orphaned or separated from their parents and forced to survive alone. It is for this reason we want them to be remembered while we ask you to hold your own children close and take part in the #MyDadsBeard campaign.

It is up to us, people like you and I, to prevent these poor, innocent children from becoming a lost generation. We suggest a donation of between £1& £5 To Save the Children’s Syria Appeal, when you submit a picture to the #MyDadsBeard campaign. You can do this by visiting our JustGiving page (https://www.justgiving.com/sweet-apple-publishers) or texting MYDB55 and the amount you wish to donate to 70070. Have a look at the great work Save the Children are doing in Syria (http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/about-us/emergencies/syria-appeal).

How it works

(1) Take a creative photo with your child/children. Aim to make us feel tickled and amused or warm and fuzzy!

(2) For Twitter users: Copy and paste the message below (tweet) and send it in your Twitter account. Follow us on Twitter and submit your photo. Please use @SweetAppleBooks to submit your photo as well as the hash tag #MyDadsBeard.

RT enter #MyDadsBeard photo contest, WIN a signed copy of the book and fundraise for Syria Appeal @savechildrenuk http://tinyurl.com/nz7pufc


For Facebook users: ‘Like’ Sweet Apple Publishers, find the following post on our page ‘Share this post and enter our photo contest to WIN a signed copy of our new picture book and raise money for Save the Children Syria Appeal http://tinyurl.com/nz7pufc’ share it and post your photo on our page using the hash tag #MyDadsBeard.

(3) Make a donation to Save the Children’s Syria appeal by visiting our JustGiving page, or texting the code MYDB55 and the amount you want to donate, for example, MYDB55 £1, to 70070

Rules:

• The contest will run from the 1st of May 2014 until the 31st of May 2014. Winners will be notified on the 1st of June 2014.

• Only one entry per account.

• Twitter users must retweet the above tweet and follow @SweetAppleBooks to be eligible for the prize.

• Facebook users must share the post for the contest and like Sweet Apple Publishers to be eligible for the prize.

• Uncles, granddads, or anyone else posting photos with children who are not their own should seek prior permission from the child’s parents.

• We ask entrants not to disclose the name/names of children in their photos.

• Winners will be selected by Sweet Apple Publishers, based on the most amusing and/or touching photos.

• Winners will be notified by a message to their Twitter or Facebook account.

• We encourage you to make a donation, however we will not enforce it and entrants who have not done so will still be eligible for the prize.

Wishing children heartfelt moments taking photos with their dads! Wishing all dads heartfelt father-child moments and man-beard moments! Wishing the children in Syria, and children all around the world, relief from their suffering.

By Zanib Mian

My Dad's Beard

Phew! That, people, is the sound of my relief at launching the new Sweet Apple website! Excitement, anticipation and a sense of stepping onto a long, adventurous and God willing, prosperous road, soon knock relief off the top spot and settle snugly into my minds heart.

This illustration is a very true reflection of my state over the last two weeks, except if I had a free hand I might be pulling my hair out at times! The launch coincided with one of those tremendously busy times in the life of a single mum – half term! But what’s making our half term more like the Christmas holidays in what my family refer to as the ‘Home Alone’ house, is my sister’s arrival from Gibraltar, with her two young sons. So, much like the McCallisters’, the Mian household is buzzing with adults and children of all shapes and sizes. However, it seems that all the booby traps are cleverly engineered for me instead of the Wet Bandits!

As the founding director of Sweet Apple Publishers, you can begin to imagine how much I am juggling in these busy times – and loving every moment of it! Other than ‘My Dad’s Beard’ we will be bringing you four new books before autumn is out. Ranging from stimulating books for babies to chapter books for those children stepping into that new reading phase!

I make reference to our all time favourite movie growing up, which brings on the realisation that many things are still the same. I was writing rhymes back then, for every occasion and with any excuse, and I am writing rhymes now. Those who know me will agree that I express my love for people, experiences or even objects with silly, funny rhymes. ‘It Must Have Been You’ and ‘Never too Small’ are two rhyming stories I have written for publication late this summer. They are currently in the hands of two talented and trusty illustrators, who make me smile amidst all the madness with their ideas and sketches.

I wouldn’t be here as the person I am today without my faith and without my loving and selfless parents; without my children who are my inspiration and the reason why I do what I do; without my supportive family whose collective talents I have also utilised to get this far; and without my friends, who I depend on for the giggles and shoulders. No doubt, I will need them all in these exciting years to come at Sweet Apple Publishers.

By Zanib Mian

LaunchSweet Apple PublishersWebsite