I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to read a special story with this instructional song to my grandson. Don't you just love engaging books for children, especially where music is involved?! I sure do because it's fun to learn new things and to practice repetitive things with rhyme and music. You'll find my review of this little tale, Learn to Tie with the rabbit and the Fox on today's post.
I am also very pleased to share with you a special interview with the author, Sybrina Durant.
About The Book
Learn to Tie a Tie with the Rabbit and the Fox is the new, fun, interactive story for kids by Sybrina Durant. The book is based around the endearing tale of a rabbit and a hungry fox. The illustrated new story melds generations past, with a story of new found freedom and flavor.
Learn to Tie with the Rabbit and the Fox is the careening adventure of these two characters, set to a lively and memorable instructional song, that offers a simple and fun way of learning to tie the "school boy" style knot that so many kids struggle to learn.
In the new book, the very hungry fox races through the forest seeking to capture the sweet rabbit with its sharp and powerful snapping jaws. The race itself mimics the motion of tying a knot.
The book is written to involve the entire family and intended to make it fun for parents to teach the sometimes troubling task to the little learners.
The book encourages participants reading and listening to the companion song to each have a tie handy to go through the motions of actually tying a necktie.
Brilliant New Book by Sybrina Durant Opens new Doors for Child Learning.
The song is a catchy and repeatable jingle that runs around the head long after the book is finished. Children remember the song melody and words and with the jingle re-call their actions in tying their neckties. The elegant knot the book teaches is also known as the "four in hand". Word association has long been used by scholars and amateurs alike in the learning of anything and everything necessary and unnecessary. The process is called "Mnemonic" which is defined by the art of memorizing something by associating it with words, phrases or sentences designed to help remember.
Learn To Tie A Tie with the Rabbit and the Fox is a book readers may see, touch and share. It is also available in Spanish and Tagalog languages. The accompanying song can be streamed for free, in all three languages, at the author's website at www.sybrina.com
The illustrations by Donna Marie Naval are wonderful and go well with the story line.
This book contains 24 pages of story, instruction and tie-a-tie diagrams, plus the lyrics to the song.
Listen to the song for Free
My Review
A cute story and colorful illustrations provide a fun and easy approach in learning to tie a knot in a necktie. Following the story of the fox chasing a rabbit, the up-beat song will help you in performing the challenge of this hand and eye coordination task. My grandson was delighted to cheer on the rabbit escaping the quick gray fox. How does the little rabbit do it? Why, it's as easy as tying a "school boy knot." What I especially like about the book and song is that it brings families together in a delightful way!
5/5 stars. Recommend it.
Author Interview
Tell us a bit about your book and where it’s available.
Learn To Tie A Tie With The Rabbit And The Fox is a cute storybook with beautiful disneyesque, yet thoroughly modern artwork meant to make it easy to learn to tie a simple knot in a necktie. It is immediately available in print and ebook format at most online bookstores. And it is available in print version upon request at major bookstores around the world via Ingram /Baker and Taylor.
What was the inspiration for your book?
I was inspired to put together a fun “how-to” for learning to tie a tie way back in the 1980’s when my children were young. Someone told us the little story about the rabbit and the fox when we were tie shopping for their Dad and it was so simple we remembered it when we got home. Being a young and very busy mother, I never really had time to work on it and I completely forgot all about it until a year or so ago. I did some research to see if anyone had ever published such a book and found that no one had so I got right on it.
What was your aim for this book? What did you want readers to think and feel when reading it?
I wanted to take a seemingly complicated task and make it simple for anyone of any age – even for little kids. I want parents and children to have fun learning together because after all, like me back then, many young parents today don’t know how to tie a tie. I want everyone who follows the tale of the fox chasing the rabbit through the forest to have a sense of accomplishment and pride for mastering something that requires some manual dexterity. Not all hand to eye coordination has to be experienced with video games.
Do you have any other books currently available?
Actually, Learn To Tie A Tie With The Rabbit And The Fox and the accompanying instructional song are currently available in English, Spanish and Tagalog. Anyone can go to Sybrina.com and hear the song in all three languages for free.
What will you be working on next?
In a few months I will release a book that specifically involves girls in the knot tying process. It will be titled “Learn To Tie A Neck Scarf With The Rabbit And The Fox”. Come to find out, there is actually a method for tying a scarf called the “necktie knot”. This book, also illustrated by Donna Marie Naval, will be in soft pastels reminiscent of water color paintings.
How did you originally get into writing?
I have been writing songs and stories since I was first able to spell. I’ve started writing many science fiction and fantasy novels but have yet to finish one. One day…
What do you enjoy most about being a writer?
What I enjoy most about this current phase of being a writer is something I would have never imagined before the internet age…I most enjoy interacting with like-minded individuals from all around the world. For instance, Donna is from the Philippines and I would have never met her if not for the internet. I had looked at the portfolios of over 100 artists before hers appeared. When I saw it, I knew that her artwork was what was needed to make the story come alive. It really makes me happy to be able to help further someone else’s dreams along with my own.
What do you find hardest about being a writer?
The hardest thing about being a writer these days is realizing that you must also be your own publisher and publicist. The truth is over 900 new books are released for sale in this country alone every single day so the hard work begins after the book has been made available to the public. It is then, you realize you must set your feet on the long hard path of marketing because, with so many other books calling for people’s attention, it’s up to you to ensure people know yours is out there and that is it something they’ll be happy to read.
Who or what would you count as your main influence?
I have to say my Dad was my main influence. He could tell a story like nobody’s business. He would hold an entire room enthralled, wildly recounting his youthful adventures. I could never tell stories like that but I found that I could write them down pretty well. A little aside about my Dad that you might find interesting…he thought he made up my name Sybrina and he was very proud of it. Once I made the mistake of asking him if I could have a nickname because it is a somewhat awkward name to pronounce. No one ever got it right. Well, that was the angriest he ever was at me. His answer was unequivocally “NO!” He said, “I gave you that name for a reason. Someday the world is going to know who you are and you need a name they will remember.” I scoffed at such a notion at the time but maybe that little lecture is what has motivated me to keep writing and sharing my stories.
Who is your favorite author?
I have many favorite authors and my library at home is packed with row upon row of books going all the way up to the ceiling. I’ve always felt like books were my friends and I could never let go of one once I’d read it. Books are my favorite presents to buy for my friends and family. I want them to get as much pleasure as I have from so many amazing stories. I was first inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien author of “Lord of the Rings”. I was totally enchanted with the land that he created. So much so that I began creating magical worlds of my own.
What do you enjoy reading?
Epic fantasies are my favorite read.
What would be your ideal writer’s haven for creating your book? Would you have a desk in a quiet cabin somewhere or an iPad on the beach?
My ideal writer’s haven would be the second story of a cabin at the lake. I would love to have a big picture window right in from of me for gazing out at tranquil scenery filled with a green tree filled lawn with water expanding into the distance beyond. That is very soothing for me. But it really doesn’t matter where I am when I’m writing because I totally lose focus of my surroundings. I am lost in the story when I’m writing, just as when I’m reading.
About The Author
League City, TX - Sybrina Durant is an inventive author, who understands children and what they enjoy. Learn To Tie a Tie with the Rabbit and the Fox, is the recent book by the author who is igniting excitement in families worldwide, with a simple little book that is helping children learn a sometimes tough lesson.
Thanks so much Sybrina for the wonderful interview and giving our readers a chance to know you a little better. I especially loved the story about you and your dad. Plus, learning how you found the illustrator to the book and now another up-coming new one. I look forward to reading Learn to Tie a Neck Scarf with the Rabbit and the Fox when available. Best wishes and much continued success!
Blessings,
“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis
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