New Children's Picture Book with Stunning Artwork Explores the World of a Hopi Indian Girl

Newly released picture book about a Hopi (pronounced: hope-ee) Indian girl takes readers through many metaphorical doors to explore the different aspects that make each our lives: family, friendship, culture, education, creativity, and nature.

TALASI... A Story of Tenderness and Love exposes children to new experiences as Talasi explores her native world and later the modern culture of the white man while holding to Native American beliefs and traditions. This charming and lovingly illustrated picture book teaches young readers how love and friendships get us over the rough spots in life and to never stop exploring the world around them.

Many American children are growing up in a multicultural world and are curious to understand all the cultures surrounding them. "Traveling through Arizona, I was terribly curious myself, about what life on an Indian reservation was like when I visited a Hopi tribe," said author Ellen S. Cromwell. "I wanted to understand the culture of these amazing people and visited with a kikmongwi, primarily a religious leader for the tribe. This experience truly touched me."

TALASI... A Story of Tenderness and Love is about a young Hopi Indian girl named Talasi. Her name comes from corn tassel flowers that surround her pueblo home in Arizona. Tassels are tall, slender flowers clustered at the very top of corn. Corn, in its many forms, provides basic nourishment for Hopi People.

Wonderfully written, this children's book clearly reflects the author's fascination with the Hopi people and their history. Hopi means "peaceful person" or "civilized person" in the Hopi language and Ellen S. Cromwell evokes a compelling portrait of the Hopi Indians and how they truly are a peaceful people. "The richness of Talasi's Indian culture will expand the horizons of any child who reads this book," said illustrator Desiree Sterbini. "I researched to make sure every illustration was authentic to the Hopi culture. I wanted the themes of love, family, and friendship to be something each child could relate to. The images are personal as they are from actual pictures of my mother-in-law and daughter."

With the author and illustrator using personal, real life experiences and pictures to draw from, the book exemplifies what it means to value all cultures that make up the world we live in and that no matter what children can solve problems with love and courage. "A lot of the imagery is from personal experiences. I grew up as an immigrant in the Bronx and remember the neighborhood coming together to build this treehouse for all the kids to play in. It was amazing and we felt like we were on top of the world as kids up there," said author Ellen S. Cromwell. "Those childhood experiences and what I learned from the Hopi tribe and its culture helped me create Talasi and her world."

Not only does this picture book have multicultural overtones, but parents and educators will find the author used sight words and repetition to make this the perfect book for classrooms and bookshelves.

"Reading a book together as a family or in the classroom is one simple yet very special tradition," said Halo Publisher Lisa M. Umina (http://www.halopublishing.com). "Readers of all ages will find this picture book is heartwarming and helps keep you and your children connected through the upcoming holiday season."

You can purchase "TALASI... A Story of Tenderness and Love" through Halo Publishing's website (http://halopublishing.com), Amazon, and B&N.

Biography:
Author Ellen Cromwell is the founder of the Georgetown Hill Early Schools in Montgomery County, Maryland and has been an educator of young children since the 1970's and is the author of three early childhood professional texts including Nurturing Readiness in Early Childhood Education, Allyn & Bacon, 2000. Wiggle-Dee-Dee, Splash Puddle Splash, and Are You Listening, Potbelly? are three recent children's books she has authored. You can learn more at her website http://www.cromwellsplash.com

Artist, Desiree Sterbini creates award-winning works with oil pastels and colored pencils on textured paper and board. Her sensitive compositions are detailed with vibrant colors and strokes, created by stumps of rolled paper and brush. Women of color, children, the simple lives of ordinary people and nature are her primary subjects. Desiree received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and continues to study through workshops and studio classes. Her oil pastel paintings have been exhibited and featured throughout the DC metro area and nationally including, Embassy of Cote d'Ivoire, Fox News Washington DC Myvoicedc.com, Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery at the Smith Farm Center, Edison Place Gallery, L'Eclat de Verr Gallery, Sandy Springs Museum, Art Expo Las Vegas and 7 Women from 7 Countries exhibition, Doral, Florida. Desiree's works have also been on loan in Port Louis, Mauritius Embassy through the United States Arts in Embassy Program. Along with works held in several private collections, Desiree's talents are commissioned, including illustrated children's books Splash Puddle Splash and Are You Listening Potbelly? written by Ellen S Cromwell.

TALASI... A Story of Tenderness and Love by Ellen S. Cromwell, publisher Halo Publishing, Int., ISBN: 978-1-61244-420-8; Price: $12.99 (paperback).

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