My name is Mrs. D. and I am an author of children's books. I write because I have something to share. I write because maybe someday, someone in this world may need my experience. I write for one simple reason. I love how it makes me feel: free.
Just like Barbara and Victor Mojica’s three previous children’s history books, their most recent work, Little Miss History Travels to Ford’s Theater, is a wonderful addition to the treasury of children’s books on American history. All four of their books are written in an easy-to-follow language for children. The illustrations are breathtaking and the story of Ford’s Theater captures and stimulates young minds and provides a foundation for children to begin to appreciate what it means to be an American.
Writing this type of children's book, this talented team succeeds in providing the children of America with a much-needed lesson about American history. Through the well-written stories and astonishing artwork, they teach children what is good and virtuous. This is a wonderful educational book for children of any age to become familiar with the people and historical events that helped shape our great nation. All their stories are inspirational and guided by a moral purpose. Our children need to know about the past of our great country that they are privileged to live in.
Well written and illustrated, Little Miss History Travels to Ford’s Theater will help much younger children understand the history of America. The simplicity of the writing and length of this story make it perfect for a bedtime story. The historical facts are a great introduction to the story of our country and national heritage. Excellent vehicle for teaching our youngsters values that America was founded on. A truly wonderful addition to any teacher or parent's library, as well as excellent enrichment to any social studies curriculum. It is a captivating children's book on history that will shape a child's knowledge and make children proud to be citizens of the United States. Congratulations on another wonderful history book for our children! Your books are really inspiring and will be read by many.
Barbara Ann Mojica is a historian and retired educator. She writes historical articles for the Columbia Insider under the banner "Passages." Using the whimsical character Little Miss History, Barbara hopes to inspire children to learn about historical people and places. Little Miss History's antics make reading nonfiction and fun-filled adventure. "Little Miss History Travels to MOUNT RUSHMORE is her first stop. Our next journey to The Statue of Liberty is NOW AVAILABLE!
VICTOR RAMON MOJICA was born and raised in Manhattan, New York, but has lived in the Hudson Valley region since 1986 and now resides in Craryville, New York with his wife Barbara. He is an illustrator, cartoonist and writer with such works to his credit as the critically acclaimed, comic book series eugenus® ... The Next Step In Human Evolution!, which he created, wrote and illustrated. Victor has now written and illustrated his first children's book titled Captain Crossbones(™) in The Treasure Hunt, based on the comic strip appearing in The Columbia Insider, Pat Fisher and Ed Pollack, Publishers.
A fun children's book, which educates children about American history.
I absolutely adore Little Miss History, with whom I’ve already developed a special bond. I cannot wait to see where she will take me next. The “Little Miss History” series is number 1 on my list when my grandsons will be old enough to read these books.
My recommendation to parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians: chose these books! You have nothing to lose and so much to gain. They are fun to read, great for children, and full of historical facts and educational lessons. I read them just for extra knowledge! It is never too late to learn! Crafted by a very talented team, Mr. and Mrs. Mojica, these books have so much to offer. Give your child a gift—knowledge.
Delightful read from Barbara Ann and Victor Ramon Mojica!
Authors of the Little Miss HISTORY series:
Little Miss HISTORY Travels to MOUNT RUSHMORE
Little Miss HISTORY Travels to The STATUE of LIBERTY
Little Miss HISTORY Travels to SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST
Little Miss History Travels to Ford’s Theater - NEW
Victor Ramon Mojica has found a fun and different way of telling your children that they are your greatest treasure! In a beautifully illustrated children’s picture book, written in rhyme, and titled Captain Crossbones in The Treasure Hunt, Victor has woven an exciting adventure for hidden treasure that will delight you, along with its rhyming text and special message of love! Captain Crossbones in The Treasure Hunt is a book every parent, grandparent, teacher and guardian will want to read to their children, over and over again.
Mrs.D's thoughts… Grab your pirate hat, because you are in for a laugh-out-loud fun read! A beautifully illustrated gem from the talented artist and author Victor Ramon Mojica.
I must admit I am a longtime fan of Mr. Mojica’s art. I read the series of children’s books Little Miss History, illustrated by this gifted artist, and they are adorable!
Most of us remember building sand castles and ships, pretending to sail through the dangerous ocean to deserted islands, guarding treasures and secrets. It felt great to be whisked away for a moment by a super-cool pirate, battling seas full of unpredictable adventures. We felt thrilled and excited when our imagination took us to deserted islands, protecting gold and gems, or wherever the journey led us. Mr. Mojica has captured the wonderful spirit of a pirate tale in his colorful children’s book, Captain Crossbones in the Treasure Hunt. He sets young readers off to the sea to solve the mystery of hidden treasure. The illustrations are vivid and fun and express everything a young child is yearning for—sailing on a cool ship and meeting intriguing pirates. The crew of Captain Crossbones is AWESOME! What follows the illustrations is a fantastic rhyming tale dedicated to all the children in the world. What could be better than that?
A wonderful book for young children and adults who are looking to spend quality time together and share fun and good laughter! A well-written, bouncy story with thoughtful, bright illustrations that will entertain and engage any age. I highly recommend this imaginative book for children who love adventure, pirates, and the sea. Bravo on engaging readers throughout the story with a brilliant ending, which made me feel special and cozy inside. A super-exciting treat for readers!
VICTOR RAMON MOJICA was born and raised in Manhattan, New York, but has lived in the Hudson Valley region since 1986 and now resides in Craryville, New York with his wife Barbara. He is an illustrator, cartoonist and writer with such works to his credit as the critically acclaimed, comic book series eugenus® ... The Next Step In Human Evolution!, which he created, wrote and illustrated. Victor has now written and illustrated his first children's book titled Captain Crossbones(™) in The Treasure Hunt, based on the comic strip appearing in The Columbia Insider, Pat Fisher and Ed Pollack, Publishers.
Volume I, “Captain CROSSBONES for LAUGHS” is a composite of cartoon strips, published between 2010 – 2012, in The Columbia Insider, Pat Fisher and Ed Pollack, Publishers. This is the most comprehensive collection of cartoons and character descriptions ever compiled so far on the Captain CROSSBONES comic strip. Read on and you well get to know The Captain of The Lunacy and his crew of boneheads as never before and chuckle a little, or a lot, along the way!
Good Morning, World! is A FINALIST IN THE READERS' FAVORITE CONTEST in both categories:Children - Preschool and Children - Concept.
Go Baby Thomas!
The Trees Have Hearts is A FINALIST IN THE READERS' FAVORITE CONTEST in both categories also : Children - Grade K-3rd and Children - Educational
Honored! Cross your fingers!
I am so excited to officially announce that my first short story, The Little Girl Praying on the Hill, is a finalist in the 2014 Readers' Favorite annual International Award Contest also! The Little Girl Praying on the Hill made it to the finals in both categories as well: Non-Fiction - Short Story and Non-Fiction - Inspirational.
What an honor for a girl from the Carpathian village in Ukraine, who could hardly write a shopping list three years ago. I do not want to wake up...Someone pinch me! Read more HERE:https://readersfavorite.com/2014-finalists.htm
This review is from: The Little Girl Praying on the Hill (Kindle Edition)
“The Little Girl Praying on the Hill” by Olga D’Agostino is rather a unique story in which a young girl narrates to readers an overview of her life as she was growing up. The girl resided in an agrarian society, served by a small town, with a single church situated high on a hill.
As should be the case, the opening sentence in this book sets the stage for the rest of the tale. That sentence is: “I was born in a strange place, beautiful to look at but hard to live in.” Throughout the story our young narrator juxtaposes her vivid descriptions of the natural world around her, with her laments of the harsh life faced by villagers and farmers alike.
This story is not a book children will appreciate, nor is it a full blown novel for adults. In both content and character, it is well suited to middle-grade students, and possibly of greater interest to girls than boys, although that is my own prejudice coming into play. (Hey, I’m old. What did you expect?)
“The Little Girl Praying on the Hill” is a very realistic cameo of post-WWII rural European life. In that regard it should also be of considerable interest to history buffs, particularly those who are most intrigued by that time and place. The apparent lack of any “modern” conveniences in the context of this story also serves to make it relevant to many places in today’s world, where people still live much the same as did their ancestors hundreds of years previously.
At no point in this story did D’Agostino suggest she was telling of her own childhood, or possibly her mother’s childhood. However, if I were a gambling man I’d be happy to lay down a bet that such is the case. I was expecting a children’s book, as that is what D’Agostino usually writes, but finding a little slice of life at a different time and place was a most delightful surprise.
I cannot decide which genre best fits this story. That notwithstanding, I can and do recommend this as being both entertaining and educational. All readers with an interest in the so-called “good old days”, or intrigued by how different life was before iPads and Facebook, should take the time to read and savor “The Little Girl Praying on the Hill” by Olga D’Agostino. It may help you keep your own life challenges in perspective.
She spent a lot of time alone, or so it seemed to the people in the village below. Every day, she would take the sheep up to the top of the hill, where she would spend hours.
In her mind, though, she was not alone. She spent hours with her friends–the princess in her glorious cloud castle, and the mercurial companion, the wind, who sometimes teased, sometimes tormented her. Life was good–
–until her daydream was interrupted by a furious someone who angrily reminded her about forgotten chores.
Back to the sad reality–a life in the mud, surrounded by poverty and hopelessness. There was little room for sadness; when her younger sister died, her own dress was taken for the burial. The little girl mourned only for the dress that had been taken away from her. There were no tears for the sister.
In a world where despair reigns supreme, a child’s mind turns to prayer. But when the help isn’t immediate, faith must carry her through the difficulties of an “unfair” life.
I have read several of Ms. D’Agostino’s books, and this has to be, by far, my favorite. None of the whimsy and cuteness of her previous books are in this offering. However, her light-handed way of writing turns what could be a dark and depressing time in her childhood into something magical. The little girl, obviously the author, has a gift for daydreaming; which naturally led her, as an adult, to her gifted ability to tell a tale like this. The reader can’t help but be absorbed into the story. With prose such as:
“My wind was a mysterious friend. He was a most virtuous player. I loved watching him play with the green grass that grew near the forest. He played his music with a gentle whisper, taking my breath away. When he hit a higher note and touched his invisible strings with his tender stroke, the green grass strained like arrows, making the most wonderful sound that rang in my ears the entire day.”,
how can one not be captivated? Such descriptions! No wonder Ms. D’Agostino is an award-winner.
This review is from: The Little Girl Praying on the Hill (Kindle Edition)
I am a long time fan of Mrs. D. children's books. I was quite surprised to find out that she is writing for the older audience also. The Little Girl Praying on the Hill is the heartfelt story of a little girl, who was born on a farm in the Soviet Union in the post WW II era. The story describes the life of an innocent child, who tries to survive heartbreaking reality by escaping into her imaginary world, filled with beauty and kindness. A world where there is no place for evil, hate, or pain. People call her strange, because she is different from the children in her village. Unlike other children who resigned to the sad existence, the little girl has a hard time to accept her real world. Two parallels of her world are running closely to each other. One escapes ahead and opens her soul, and lets out pieces of her painful memories. The desperate child questions God. Why the real world does not look the same, as it exists in her imagination, untainted and innocent? Why does she look to escape into unreachable places? Why does God punish her people? The first parallel exposes the happy moments of her life, but her second parallel is catching up with her poignant memories, full of sadness and pain. Her innocent imagination distracts her from the sad world, but the second she opens her eyes, the visible line between beauty and ugliness leaves nothing, except emptiness.
In a short period, the author opens up two worlds to the reader, the beauty and kindness, the sadness and the ugliness. Just like parasites, her two emotions feed on each other. The beauty complements the ugliness; the happiness complements the hopelessness. By creating the beautiful imaginary world, Mrs. D'Agostino purposely distracts us from her depressing reality, full of bitterness and frustration. Before we know, she plunges us back into the misery of the little girl's life, filled with desperation and disappointments. With each page, I relived the life of the struggling child, overwhelmed with the factual world. It amazed me how the search for love and acceptance made the little girl realize her journey. I absolutely love how the author portrayed the little girl's imaginary friends. I felt as if the wind became my friend, the wheat field became my home, and the sky became my escape. The author surrounds the reader with astonishing imaginary pictures and sad reality at the same time. When the little heroine flows in her beautiful imagination, I cheered her up, but when she must return to the dreary life, I felt crashed. This soulful story kept me in tension to the last word. It felt like a breath of wind, strong, emotional, and deep. It would not let me relax or become indifferent. The two worlds of the little girl beautifully complement each other; the personal made me cry, the imaginary lifted my soul up to heaven. I am glad I had a chance to relive the life of this little girl and discover a new Mrs. D. I read this short story a few times, just to feel the spirit, energy, and emotions. This moving story made me think.
is the second rhyming book that I have had the pleasure to read from the talented husband and wife team of author Janice Spina and illustrator John Spina. Written in an easy-to-read style, this adorable story will take young readers along on the adventures of self-confident young Ricky the Raccoon, who likes to wonder alone at night looking for snacks. He thinks that he is invisible in the dark and that no one can see him. Little does he know that danger lurks around every corner and that there will be consequences for breaking Mom's rules. Through his adventures in the night, he learns his lesson: rules that his mom taught him are for a reason. They are to keep him safe and alive.
The story is written in a very gentle way. It is sweet and appealing, a wonderful teaching tool for preschoolers or beginning readers. Children will easily relate to this story because many of them already know what rules are for and some of them may have broken them already. They will have fun following this cute character through the sweet, bright illustrations, colored with pencils or crayons. Youngsters will love this type of artwork because it resembles what kids usually draw, simple pictures from their imagination. While reading about the little adventurer who thinks he can run free wherever and whenever he wants, children will learn a valuable lesson: there is always a price to pay if you do not obey your parents’ rules.
Another wonderful read from the Spinas! A great teaching book for parents, teachers, and babysitters. The rhymes in this charming tale make it perfect to read to the little ones in your life!
Janice Spina is the author of four children's books, Louey the Lazy Elephant, Ricky the Rambunctious Raccoon, Jerry the Crabby Crayfish, Lamby the Lonely Lamb, copy editor and writer of novels and poetry. She is working on two more children's books and editing a novel, Hunting Mariah, for publication. Janice has written three more novels which she will eventually publish over the next year or two.
