Buckaroo Buckeye: A Little Nut with Big Dreams
Written by Kristin Anderson Cetone
Today we present the winner of the Mom’s Choice Silver award. This charming book, written for ages 3 to 7, is certain to delight your young readers.
Author Kristin Anderson Cetone is currently on a virtual book tour with iRead Book Tours to introduce Buckaroo. You will find her at many sites with interviews and articles she will share. We are pleased to have an interview with the author here below.
Check it out and see if you don’t agree children will love this sweet and inspiring story. It’s a wonderful thing to give children the love of reading.
Our Interview with Ms. Cetone
Telling my story was my dream, but what kind of character should I have? It’s very hard to find a relatable character to tell such a universal story, so I decided I wanted to create a unique, but adorable character for readers to love. I got my inspiration from my own ‘roots.’
Born and raised in Ohio, the tiny buckeye nut ‘seed’ was a natural part of my life. I thought to myself, “this tiny buckeye nut seed could represent the tiny ‘seed’ we all carry within us with our passions and dreams. With proper nourishment from family, culture, education, and life experiences this tiny seed will sprout and grow mighty…despite discouragement and self-doubts along the way, just as the majestic buckeye tree grows from a tiny seed.
So, I brought Buckaroo Buckeye to life. Did I mention, that as a child I was always fascinated about the days of the cowboy and the old wild west. So, I decided to transform my buckeye nut seed character, into a cowboy, ten years ago! Yippee!
How long have you been writing?
Actively, I have been writing for ten years.
Which was the hardest character to write? The easiest?
There is only one main character in my story and his story was easy to connect to me and my life journey. My three characters in my sequels were also easy to write as they directly relate to three very influential female members of my own family. The hardest part was coming up with my character names, since they are buckeye nuts, and giving them human experiences.
Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
As I just mentioned, from my roots in Ohio and my own family and family tree.
What genre do you write and why?
Children’s picture book stories. The format for this genre is short, with a message, and uses endearing pictures to help tell the story.
In your book you state, “Why, you are a worthless nut just like the rest of us” …. why is that?
The whole premise for Buckaroo Buckeye came from my father. In his elder years he would often ask, “Do you know what a buckeye nut is?” To humor him, we would always say, “No, Dad, what is a buckeye nut?” His response was ALWAYS, “It’s a worthless nut!” This became the impetus for Buckaroo’s journey of self-discovery. We are all born with the potential for greatness. As youngsters, we are full of excitement and zest and hopes and dreams and passions. I too, began my life journey with this tiny ‘seed.’ I was very shy and crossed paths with many, as I grew, who preyed upon my shyness and fear of taking risks. I was told many a discouraging word which only made me more shy and fearful. Because of this, it took me many years to rise above these bumps and bullies. I feel that many of our life journeys of self-discovery start slowly and may even be hindered by hurtful and discouraging words and actions along the way. But always remember,
“Success comes from a tiny ‘seed’ within each of us. This tiny seed contains our hopes and dreams and passions in life. When we receive encouragement and nourishment from family, culture, education, and life experiences, the seed will sprout and grow mighty, and rise above the bumps and bullies and setbacks along the way.
Discouraging words…discourage dreams,
Encouraging words…sprout dreams,
Parents plant the seeds.”
-Kristin Anderson Cetone
The Tour
Book Details:
Book Title: Buckaroo Buckeye: A Little Nut with Big Dreams
Author: Kristin Anderson Cetone
Illustrator: Nadia Komorova
Category: Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7), 36 pages
Genre: Friendship, Social Skills & School Life, Bullies, Growing Up & Facts of Life
Publisher: KLAC Enterprises, LLC
Release date: September 1, 2012
Tour dates: May 21 to June 15, 2018
Content Rating: G
Book Description:
Winner of the Mom’s Choice Silver and OneBookAZ Awards!
There’s a new cowboy in town! Hit the trail with Buckaroo Buckeye, a lovable little nut who falls from his tree in Ohio, as he dodges the bumps and bullies along the way in a magical journey to find his true place in the world.
Created by Reading Specialist Kristin Cetone, Buckaroo Buckeye teaches children 4-8 to:
• Learn to ignore bullies
• Improve their self-esteem
• Connect with reading
• “Dream, Believe and Achieve” no matter their size!
Your child will be inspired by Buckaroo’s determination in this touching story with unforgettable characters illustrated by Nadia Komorova. Get yours today!
Buckaroo Buckeye grew out of author Kristin Anderson Cetone’s imagination and joy of reading.
Born in Dayton, Ohio, she traveled many miles before putting down roots in the Arizona desert. Influenced by family, education, life experiences, and a desire to teach others, Mrs. Cetone discovered her purpose—just like Buckaroo Buckeye did.
Her true calling and passion is writing and helping others become successful readers. She created Buckaroo to encourage children to believe in themselves and follow their dreams while dodging the bumps and bullies along the way. Reading will help guide the way. Being a Reading Specialist, she has also created Nuts About Reading™ an informal, supplemental, online reading service. She shares her insights and suggestions to help parents strengthen their children’s reading process and become successful readers.
Her joy now is to inspire and help kids to find the Buckaroo Buckeye in themselves.
Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
