Interactive Adventures in Children’s Literature
Sharon Moore discusses her creative journey, blending faith and fun in children’s books, and her collaborative work with illustrator Valeria Leonova.
Sharon Moore loves to share her message of fun and faith through the creative arts. Writing poetry and children’s books, painting nature, and playing her violin, are all embedded in her creative arts outreach with the fun, pun name of Sharon Moore Fun. She is the author of four picture books and coming soon, a book of poetry.
Sharon’s books go beyond mere stories – they’re interactive adventures. In her book The Frog Pond, we watch the misadventures of three little frogs named Herbie, Fergie, and Gerdie. This book helps children learn valuable life lessons. Plus, this is a fun interactive book. Your kids will love doing the Froggy Hoedown and a special Froggy Cheer! In her book That First Christmas Day, there are special activity pages at the end that reinforce the story.
Sharon and her illustrator Valeria Leonova have managed to work together from long distance, via the internet. Sharon found Valeria from a Facebook site for illustrated books for children. When they first started Valeria was living with her family in Ukraine. However, due to the conflict in Ukraine, she and her family had to move and they now residence in England. Their newest collaboration is entitled- If You Could Be Anything. This story will help kids dream of fun and encouraging possibilities. It is also important to note that 25% of the royalties will go to an organization called Serve Ukraine, which helps those who are trying to survive in my illustrator’s homeland of Ukraine.
Sharon lives in Bloomington, Indiana, the home of Indiana University, where IU Basketball is a lifelong passion. She also enjoys being with family. She has a wonderful big brother and twin sister who live close by. She is a wife, mother, and a proud grandmother. She has an Associate Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education and ran her own home daycare for many years. She also has a Certificate in Safety Management from IU, where she was able to implement that training as a Safety Specialist at COOK Medical in Bloomington, IN.
Sharon, your creative journey involves writing poetry, children’s books, painting nature, and playing the violin/fiddle. How did you discover your passion for these creative arts, and how do they intersect in your life and work?
It started with the violin. At the young age of about 6 or 7, when I started taking violin lessons. Learning was difficult, but as I got better, I really enjoyed perfecting solos and playing in different orchestras. Especially a touring orchestra called Continental Orchestra, which I did for 2 summers. My love for doing paintings started in high school, but developed as I learned techniques from my uncle. My uncle was Malcolm C. Heaton, who I loving knew as Uncle Mac. He worked for a for a magazine entitled Outdoor Indiana and later became the art director of the Department of Conservation. His wildlife paintings are outstanding, as well as drawings and even cartooning. He passed away in 2002, but his artwork lives on in some of the State Parks, here in Indiana and other locations. My journey as an author of children’s books started many years ago when I was a preschool teacher. It was then that I wrote and published my first book entitled – Linda the Ladybug Goes To Heaven. Since then, I have written and published three more books for children. That all started to happen about three years ago when I found a wonderful illustrator on Facebook. All my stories are a fun way to help children grow in their faith. My illustrator – Valeria Leonova does an amazing job of bringing my stories to life.
My dream is to help others find joy in the creative arts. I have developed an outreach in which I share examples in a fun interactive way. For my stories, I have kids act them out. We also sing and I play my violin, as well as share prints of my paintings and explain the process. At this present time, I am semi-retired. I work 3 days a week at a factory that makes medical devices. On my days off, I stay pretty busy. I play fiddle in a county band called 46 West, I play hymns for a chapel service at a nearby Senior Care Center, plus I try to sale my artwork and self-published books at festivals, when possible.
The Sparrow Family beautifully depicts the journey of sparrows learning to fly. What inspired you to write this story, and how do you believe it encourages children to face their fears and embrace growth?
Many years ago, while teaching preschool, I penned this story. It was just a typed-out tale that I shared with the kids I worked with. Little did I know that the story would take flight!
When I stumbled upon the talented illustrator Valeria Leonova in a Facebook group in 2020, excitement bubbled within me. Together, we embarked on a creative journey over the internet. The wonderful result was The Sparrow Family, a heartwarming tale about little chicks facing their fears as they learn how to fly. This was our first endeavor, we went on to complete three more books – The Frog Pond, That First Christmas Day and soon to be published, If You Could Be Anything.
Children are always acquiring new skills, but sometimes fear and anxiety accompany these growth moments. In our book, the sparrow parents lead by example, showing their little ones that starting with prayer can help them overcome their apprehensions. Through faith, they discover that God is with them every step of the way.
That First Christmas Day offers a personal perspective on the first Christmas through a little girl’s eyes. Can you share what motivated you to write this book and how you approached blending the story with engaging illustrations and activities for children?
This book originated from the poem I wrote entitled That First Christmas Day, and I was thrilled to transform it into a book.It aims to help children understand the true significance of Christmas as taught in the Bible. The story comes alive through the dreams of a little girl, imagining what that first Christmas day was like when Jesus was born. Additionally, the activity pages, illustrated by Valeria, enhance the book. It is actually the beginning stage of creating an illustration. They work out wonderfully as coloring pages, adding an interactive element to the book.
I encourage you to take a moment and explore this precious book for yourself. Below you will find a YouTube video that shares the plot and showcases the lovely illustrations.
4) In The Frog Pond, you explore the importance of leadership and friendship through the adventures of Herbie, Fergie, and Gerdie. What lessons do you hope young readers take away from this story, and how did you develop the characters to convey these messages?
The Frog Pond aims to teach children valuable life lessons based on biblical principles. Through the adventures of Herbie, Fergie and Gerdie, readers witness the consequences of their decisions. The book is interactive, featuring activities like the Froggy Hoedown and a special Froggy Cheer. Ultimately, it emphasizes God’s guidance and protection and the importance of aligning actions with His will.
The genesis of The Frog Pond – much like all my stories – springs from my personal relationship with God. It begins as a simple thought, which I then, with His help, expand upon. My primary goal was to help children recognize that God is present in every situation and that there are consequences when we stray from His will. Imaging characters who learn and grow through their decisions was a delightful journey, one that ultimately shaped this heartwarming story.
Your work emphasizes the integration of faith and creativity. How do you believe creative arts can be a powerful tool for sharing messages of faith and joy with children and adults alike?
That is the heartbeat behind all that I am trying to accomplish. I strive to share my faith-based message through music, art, stories, and movement/dance. Music is pretty easy to blend into a message because the lyrics can emphasis the topic. I do, however, make sure that what I am sharing is appropriate for the audience. What I share at a senior care facility has a lot more depth then what I share for school age children. With my paintings, I often add a scripture of saying in calligraphy. My stories are more about the characters trying to work out a situation. This is where I show how The Lord is there to guide us. One other way that I try to blend a faith-based message with creative expression is by sharing a song or poem in American Sign Language – ASL. I only recommend this if you take classes from a certified teacher. The ASL or BSL – British Sign Language, culture is one that needs to be preserved to what it is meant to be. Learning the signs to words is not enough, there is a lot more to it than that. I took a collage course from a certified ASL instructor.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors and artists who are passionate about creating meaningful content for children, based on your own experiences in writing and illustrating your books?
Creating captivating stories for young readers is such a rewarding endeavor. However, it does take a lot of work and patience, as there is rarely overnight success.
The most important advice I can give is to strive to put out the best book possible. In doing so, practice makes perfect! Just like the saying goes, “The way to Carnegie Hall is to practice, practice, practice.” Set aside time each day or week to work on your stories. The more you write, the better you’ll become.
Now, when your story is at its final stage, it’s essential to have someone who’s good at editing review it. Some other helpful tools are Microsoft Word Editor and Microsoft Read Aloud. In my opinion, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create a story is cheating. However, using it to review for errors can be helpful.
Great illustrations breathe life into children’s books. If you’re not an artist, strive to find the best illustrator possible. Collaborate closely with them to bring your story to life visually.
As a self-published author, you’ll want to explore platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and Ingram Spark. These allow you to share your work with the world.
The secret sauce is Marketing! Your book won’t do much good if people don’t know about it. Utilize social media, author websites, and local events to promote your work. Consider book signings, school visits, and book readings at your public library.
With all this to consider, there will be times that you might want to give up. However, remember the reason why you wanted to publish books for children. You have an important story to tell! Keep that passion burning and remember that every word you write has the potential to inspire young minds and create lasting memories. Happy writing!
