PBParty Entry #53 : Honey Tea for Alice {ART}

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GENRE: Diverse, Character Driven, SEL

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WORDS: 530

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Query:

Dear Agents and Editors,

As an author-illustrator I’m excited for the opportunity to share my 330-word picture book, HONEY TEA for ALICE, with you. Having a quirky intergenerational friendship as seen in OLD FRIENDS, and the emotion and agency shown in THE REMEMBER BALLOONS, this book is intended for ages 3-8.

Spunky Ruby and her best-old-friend Alice share a love of honeybees and tea brewed by a pet dragon, but their play dates are threatened when Alice suffers from a problem that can’t be fixed with a band-aide. Can Ruby better understand Alice’s memory problem and be a best-little-friend to Alice?

My joyful experience as a recreation director with the elderly, and my traumatic childhood experience of losing my favorite aunt to a degenerative brain disorder helped to inform this story.

My hope is that this story will help the reader discuss their emotions, ask questions, and connect to loved ones who have dementia in meaningful ways.

I hold a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and have spent many years honing my writing and illustrating crafts. I belong to The Writer’s Loft, SCBWI, NESCBWI, and several critique groups including The Greater Boston Illustrator Group (GBIG). I am a RCCUL mentee and am published in the Writer’s Loft Anthology.

A dummy is available for HONEY TEA for ALICE as well as additional manuscripts upon request. My portfolio may be viewed at ShirleyFadden.com.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

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Excerpt:

The first time I saw my neighbor, I said, “Nice to meet you, Alice. You sure look like you have had a lot of birthday parties. Can I come to one?”

My mom turned as red as a raspberry. “Meet Ruby.” She sighed.

But Alice just laughed. And ever since then . . .

Alice is my new old friend.

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What inspired you to write this story & what do you have in common with it:

As a recreation director, I had the joyful experience of working with memory-care residents, providing them with meaningful activities and comfort, but it was the confusion and sadness surrounding my traumatic childhood experience of losing my favorite aunt to a degenerative brain disease (similar to dementia) that drove me to write this. I currently support 3 family members living with dementia.

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