Saturday, February 22, 2014

'Snuffy and Vroom-Vroom' by Elizabeth Levine

Blurb from Amazon:

A book your child will love with a great story, characters and masterful illustrations!

An adorable little vacuum cleaner's life is turned upside down when his beloved brother is purchased--and he's left behind at the store. Just when his heartbreak seems too much to bear, a magical friend arrives. She breaks the spell of sadness and sets in motion a chain of events that cause a surprising serendipity!

This book is beautifully illustrated with 16 full-color illustrations by award-winning artist, Sheila McGraw, illustrator of the children's classic Love You Forever.


THE STORY OF THE BOOK by author Elizabeth Lavine

A few years ago, I spent an entire day in a garage-turned-playroom with a small child. I had agreed to amuse her, entertain her, babysit her while her parents were both ill with the flu. What did she want to play? Dress up? Dolls? Coloring books? Paints? No--she wanted stories--not stories from books, but made-up stories. She sat on my lap and pointed to one object after another, each time saying, "Tell me a story about that."

I told stories about ping pong balls, a mini-trampoline, a little pink bicycle, a box of computer mice, a lemon tree and a clay pot full of wooden spoons. Finally, she pointed to a vacuum cleaner standing in a corner, broken and waiting to be repaired. "Poor little vacuum cleaner," she said. "He's lonely all by himself."

I wondered--perhaps he was lonely. But how could he find a life rich in friendship and good cheer again, as his life must once have been? Who or what would inspire him and re-kindle his natural love of life and self-esteem?


As I began telling the story, what had really happened to the vacuum cleaner--and what WOULD happen--revealed itself in my consciousness, clear as a bell; the story of a little vacuum cleaner, who performs one selfless act of redemption--and who's life turns instantly magical.

I offer this story to you for your enjoyment, in the hopes it will amuse and inspire you as much as it has me and many others, from 3-year-old children to grumpy old men. You may smile, laugh or cry--but without doubt, you will be touched.


Why is Snuffy and Vroom-Vroom a good choice for your child?
  • It will inspire your child's imagination and encourage curiosity about simple objects that we normally take for granted.
  • It will help build your child's self-esteem and model heartfelt values such as creativity, kindness and patience.
  • It will give your child solace if they've ever missed a friend or loved one by demonstrating the magic of "loving the ones you're with."
  • It models the values of loyalty and kindness to family members and how to extend that kindness in all areas of home life.
  • And it shows through a delightful story how anyone can create strength from sadness--instead of allowing it to remain as a dark cloud.
Sheila McGraw has also illustrated and/or written several best-selling children's picture books. Love You Forever went on to become a children's classic with more than 20 million in print and number one on the New York Times Bestseller list.


I searched for over two years for just the right artist for this book. Ms. McGraw's illustrations are above and beyond anything I could have wished for!



Available on Amazon
US \ UK \ CAN

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Lavine is a life coach and nature-lover living in Minnesota. She devotes her time listening to people, birds, trees, flowers—and vacuum cleaners. She is a mother to three grown children and grandmother to seven—one of whom inspired the writing of this book.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Sheila McGraw is an internationally recognized illustrator, painter, and author. She is the illustrator and/or author of fifteen children’s and how-to books including the children’s classic Love You Forever with more than twenty million copies in print; Paper Mache for Kids, winner of the Benjamin Franklin Award; and the bestseller.

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