“Our mission is to make reading for kids a fun activity while teaching culture, inspiring love, and bringing families together through lively and colorful stories.”
That’s the mission of LeeBeau Publishing and its author LaShonda Stewart, creating stories for kids packed with wholesome fun, culture, imagination, and learning.
The author already has published two books for kids that target age ranges from toddlers to 12-year-olds: The 12 Days of Soul Food Christmas and Emma Jean’s Sew-N-Sew.
In The 12 Days of Soul Food Christmas, everyone is welcome at Big Mama’s house for the holidays! Come in and celebrate with Big Mama’s family and enjoy a tasty new tradition of mouthwatering main courses and scrumptious side dishes shared with smiles and seconds everyone!
The book is actually a song — a whimsical new rendition of the traditional Christmas carol beloved by all, “The 12 Days of Christmas.” The book is great for families not able to get together for the holidays. It creates nostalgia and a longing to be with or reminisce about good family times, showing pictures of food items cooked for the holidays, and playing games that could include singing the actual song as a fun activity. Everybody can see their culture in the book.
The book also is a tribute to all Big Mamas (grandmothers and mothers) who go above and beyond, but for the holidays they make it even more special – cooking favorite meals to feed the souls of their family members.
Additionally, the book provides a teachable moment about the history of soul food in the black community, along with illustrations of different staple foods. It’s also a book to be enjoyed by adults.
Readers have said that The 12 Days of a Soul Food Christmas brings back good memories of their childhood, spending time with their Big Mamas, and eating good soul food.
“I bought this book for my one-year-old niece,” said Amazon reader Jermaine. “She won’t quite understand it yet, but it’s a great piece of work that she’ll enjoy in due time, singing along.
For me, it brings about pure nostalgia and holiday cheer. Also growing up in the South, being family oriented and tightly knit is everything!”
“A wonderfully crafted book,” adds Amazon reviewer Edwina D. Whipple.
In Emma Jean’s Sew-N-Sew, the author teaches children how to overcome adversity with conviction. Emma Jean doesn’t have the money to buy her daughter London the latest fashions. But after finding her grandmother’s sewing machine, she resolves to make London some new clothes. Relying on family traditions, ingenuity, and her newfound talent, Emma Jean sews each garment with love.
When a school bully targets London because of her homemade fashion, she refuses to wear anymore of her mother’s clothes. But when the school dance rolls around, London will discover just how cool a hand-crafted dress can be and Emma Jean learns what the world really thinks of her designs. The school bully turns her daughter’s world upside down, but Emma Jean is the one who learns what her daughter is truly capable of.
The book, which again features family members from Stewart’s beloved “Big Mama” series, shows the lengths to which a mother will go to ensure her children’s happiness, one stitch at a time.
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