Of Books and Boys and Other Stuff

For EVAN EARLY:

…a delightful tale of a little girl’s wait for her new brother, Evan, to come home from the NICU. Targeting young siblings of preemies 3-7 years old, is written in the simple style of most bedtime books. Prematurity can be a stressful time for other siblings in the family, especially if they are young children, since they are often excluded from the NICU due to health concerns. This book is a useful tool for bridging the gap between sibling and preemie, even before the preemie comes home for the first time. Waiting is hard on everyone, but author Rebecca Hogue Wojahn tries to make it a little easier for siblings of preemies by gently explaining what the fuss of the NICU is all about.”

~Preemie Magazine, January/February 2007

From the Bangor Daily News: the first lady of Maine is going to be reading EVAN EARLY at the Maine March of Dimes Preemie Project 1372 in November.

Also, two new reviews:

A prized addition to any school or community library picturebook collection…”

~Children’s Bookwatch, August 2006

Reassures children that they are not alone and portrays just enough suggestion of the NICU medical setting to satisfy young reader’s curiosity.”

~Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association NewsNetwork, Volume 14, Number 3, Summer/Autumn 2006

We just heard from the national director of the March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program. In an e-mail she sent out to all the NICU directors, she said:

I have read the new book for siblings with a premature baby in the NICU Evan Early and I found it sensitive, real and valuable, especially in that the story does not end with an outcome, but with Evan still in the NICU. I would encourage you to order more of these books…”

Woodbine House has already sent all the NICU centers around the country a copy of EVAN EARLY. Now March of Dimes is also going to feature it on their website and their catalog. EVAN EARLY was never meant for general appeal or big reviews, so the fact that its special audience–and an organization that I respect so much–finds it worthwhile is very exciting.

It’s taken me since Friday to figure out how to post this, but…guess what the lovely UPS deliveryperson dropped off?!

(Trust me, we were way more excited than we look in the picture.)