Happy New Year!

Ripple Grove Press would like to wish you all a joyous New Year! Here's to 2017!!

Mr. Tanner Cover Reveal

We are so excited to share the cover of Mr. Tanner. This beautiful story was released as a song in 1973 by the late singer-songwriter Harry Chapin. It is about Mr. Tanner who runs a dry cleaning shop in Dayton, Ohio, where he spends his days greeting his customers with his beautiful voice. His friends and neighbors encourage him to sing professionally instead of cleaning clothes. He eventually takes a chance and travels to New York City to be heard by a concert agent and critics, only to find they weren’t hearing what he was feeling. 

The song Mr. Tanner was released in 1973 off Harry Chapin’s Short Stories album. The song was inspired by a mediocre review about a baritone singer in The New York Times. Visit our website to find the links to the original New York Times articles!

The illustrations were done by Bryan Langdo, who also illustrated Wendy BooydeGraaff's Salad Pie (2016) among many others. Visit his website to see more of his amazing work.

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Author Interview with Wendy BooydeGraaff

It's pretty amazing what kids are up to these days. Wendy BooydeGraaff, author of Salad Pie, recently did an interview with second grader, Bridget, from Bridget and the Books Blog. Read it here.

Salad Pie Review

Many thanks to Midwest Book Review for another great review for Salad Pie.

"Salad Pie" is a delightful story about comparing solitary and shared, or cooperative play. Lighthearted, jaunty, colorful illustrations animate the tale of Maggie, who wanted to have the playground all to herself to make Salad Pie, and Herbert, who came, at first unwelcome, to share her Salad Pie creation and celebration. At first Maggie simply warned Herbert not to touch her Salad Pie as she created it, refusing his offerings of extra clover for the hat full of Salad Pie. But when she spilled pieces while tossing the Salad Pie, Herbert picked them up to return, which Maggie ungraciously allowed, still preventing him from touching her Salad Pie. The play time continued, with a surprise assistance from Herbert in a moment of unexpected chaos! From then on, the making, baking, dancing, and singing of the game of Salad Pie became a shared celebration! Even more exciting, the adventure ends with two children singing together, "Sandwich Stew, oh Sandwich Stew. Tomorrow we will brew Sandwich Stew!" Clearly, there are advantages to learning to share play with friends!

Salad Pie on sale today!

We are excited to announce that Salad Pie is officially on sale today! Click on the cover image above to read reviews and profiles with the author and illustrator.

We hope you enjoy this fun tale of friendship as much as we do!

Salad Pie Review

We are excited to share another great review for Salad Pie from School Library Journal.

Maggie believes the only way to make salad pie is in the park by herself. There should be no noise and, most importantly, no help. Herbert’s appearance makes her grumpy at first, but when she realizes she can’t scare him away, she reluctantly allows him to help add a garnish or two to her dandelion, crab apple, and clover salad. When Maggie falls off the slide performing her salad song-and-dance routine, Herbert is there to catch her and the salad. The qualities anyone would want in a friend are clearly visible in Herbert at that moment. The characters in this story are old enough to go to the park by themselves, and they appear to be of different racial backgrounds. Maggie might be considered a loner, but when Herbert impresses her with his imaginative culinary skills, she is willing to change her plans for the day and make a new friend. After reading this book, take a child outside and see what they can invent with the ingredients they find in the yard or on a walk. VERDICT A fine addition to collections in need of imaginative friendship tales.–Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada

Author Interview: Wendy BooydeGraaff

Wendy BooydeGraaff, author of Salad Pie, recently did an interview with Lauri Fortino, author of The Peddler's Bed. Read it here .

Salad Pie by Wendy BooydeGraaff and illustrated by Bryan Langdo will be in stores on March 1. Preorder it today!