Volume 4: Seeing Double

It's trouble (times two!) when Lizzy Anne's parents say that they have big news. The size of Mother's smile keeps multiplying, until it finally reaches the limit. Lizzy Anne is convinced that the big news is the arrival of her new bike, but it's an arrival of a whole different kind-- a new baby!

Lizzy doesn't know how to cope with another big change, especially since she's barely learned to balance life with Ollie around. She's convinced that this can only be negative, but as time passes, everything seems to normalize.

A couple months later, the surprise gets even bigger-- but what could possibly double the excitement? Pick up a copy and find out!

Gaithersburg Bookfest 2013!

This just in: the Lizzy Anne's Adventures team will be at the Gaithersburg Book Festival in Gaithersburg, MD on Saturday, May 18th, 2013!

See you there!

First Fun Facts! (More added on 1/6)

We thought we'd kick off 2013 with some of Lizzy Anne's "Fun Fact" Trivia!

Just like the last 'fun facts' post, highlight the white space next to 'answer' under each of the questions to see what the answer is.  Enjoy!

Chapter 1 Volume 4:

1- Question – Where do Grandma Nana and Grandpa Willie live?

                  Iowa

                  Texas

                  Virginia

Answer - Virginia 

2- Question – What is the name of Grandma Nana’s pet dog?

                 Spike

                 Gus

                 Duke

Answer – Gus

3- Question – What was the first prize in the Dairy Contest?

                  One hundred dollars

                  Pig

                  Dairy cow

Answer – $100

4- What did the banner at the entrance to the Great County Fair say?

                 Take a Ticket

                 Do Not Enter

                 Welcome to the Great County Fair

Answer –  Welcome to the Great County Fair

5 – Question – What is Lizzy Anne’s favorite snack at the Fair?

                    Cotton candy

                    Caramel popcorn

                    Corn dogs

Answer –    Cotton Candy

6 – Question – Why was the Dairy Contest delayed?

                       Due to a relay race

                       The cows escaped

                       There was a horse show

Answer - The cows escaped

7 – Question – Who won first prize at the Dairy Contest?

                         All of the Judges

                         Bessie the Cow

                         Susie the Baker

Answer – Bessie the Cow

Chapter 2 Volume 4:

            

1 - Question – What was Lizzy Anne wanting the wonderful news to be?

                        Go to the movies

                        To stay up late

                        A new bike

Answer -  A new bike

2 – Question – What was Jeffery’s signal for help?

                         By writing a note

                         Winking

                         Stomping his foot three times

Answer – Stomping his foot three times

3 – Question -  What is the name of Lizzy Anne’s third grade substitute teacher?  

                          Mrs. Stewing

                          Mr. Lohan

                          Mrs. Robertson                    

Answer – Mrs. Stewing

4 – Question – Who did Missy say Mrs. Stewing looked like?

                         The President’s wife

                         Mrs. Myers  

                         Grandma Nana

Answer – Grandma Nana

5 – Question – How long was Mrs. Blume away for?

                         Six weeks

                         Four months

                         Two weeks

Answer – Two weeks

6 – Question – Why did Lizzy Anne think she was seeing double?

                         She needed glasses

                         The new babies are identical twins

                         There were too many babies

Answer – The new babies are identical twins

7 – Question – Are the new babies brothers or sisters?

                        One brother, one sister

                        Two brothers

                        Two sisters

Answer – Two Sisters

Chapter 3 Volume 4:

1 – Question –What is the name of the new business? 

                        Lizzy Anne’s and Missy’s Pet Sitting Service

                        All Pets Welcome

                        Dogs and Cats Sitting Service    

Answer – Lizzy Anne’s and Missy’s Pet Sitting Service

2 – Question – What are the names of the Richardson’s two birds?

                        Sunny and Sunshine                            

                        Abigail and Ally

                        Knick and Knack

Answer – Knick and Knack

3 – Question – What happened to the Pet Sitting Instructions?

                         Lizzy Anne left it at home

                         Missy hid the instructions

                         Precious ate it

Answer – Precious ate it

4 – Question – Who helped the girls return the dogs?

                         Lizzy Anne’s parents

                         Mrs. Richardson

                         Jeremy

Answer – Jeremy

5 – Question – What happened to Mrs. Maxwell’s Rose bush?

                         Precious ate it

                         It was stepped on

                         Someone over watered it

Answer – Precious ate it

6 – Question - How many dogs each did Lizzy Anne and Missy walk?

                          Nine

                          Two

                          Five

Answer – Five

7- Question – What saying did Lizzy Anne hear on TV?

                        "Piece of cake!"

                        "That’s a winner!"

                        "High-five!

Answer – "Piece of cake!"

2013 With Lizzy Anne

As 2012 comes to a close, the Lizzy Anne team can say that this year was a very productive one!

Lizzy Anne's Adventures Volume 4 was produced, illustrated, and printed, which was a very good start. Many new short stories were drafted, and multiple are nearly complete. This blog, as well as our Twitter and Facebook page, both gained some more popularity-- and that's always a plus! We had many adventures of our own, like our first Book Festival in Gaithersburg. We hope to be back for the next one, and possibly more!

We have some exciting plans for 2013 prepared that we would like to share. Both Lizzy Anne's Adventures (Volume 5) and the picture book Sorry, Charlie! will both be coming out in the new year, with more following! You can pick up the new books on Amazon or on our main website, and the older ones are still there as well.

Have a happy new year, everyone, and see you in 2013!

Adventures in Christmas Shopping!

Tomorrow is Cyber Monday, and if you haven't already gotten a gift for the little ones in your life, why not check out our online shop?

Books can also be purchased through Amazon and Barnes and Nobles!

Happy holiday shopping!

Volume 4: The Great County Fair

Fall means apple cider, colorful leaves, and the Great County Fair!

Once a year the fairgrounds come to life as the fair moves into town. Lizzy Anne is extremely excited to find that her grandparents will be showing their beloved cow Bessie in the fair. However, she does not expect things to go terribly awry!

While Lizzy is petting the piglets and pigging out on cotton candy, Bessie is up to no good. Lizzy finds out the hard way that Bessie knows how to unlock her stall gate. A whole herd of trouble arises!

Don’t have a cow! Pick up a copy today to find out how Lizzy lassos the problem!

Volume 3: Lizzy Anne's Vacation Plans

Even though it's autumn here, Lizzy Anne's mind is on summer! Summer vacation, to be exact. Little Lizzy Anne is thrilled at the idea of spending a week at the beach soaking up the sun and splashing in the waves. She can barely contain her excitement!

Unfortunately for her, school is still in session. Summer might be right around the corner, but there are still tests to be taken. But those don't stop Lizzy Anne from daydreaming about her time at the beach.

Will the slip in her grades jeopardize Lizzy's chances of going on her dream vacation? Pick up a copy and find out!

Gaithersburg BookFest

The Lizzy Anne's Adventures crew had a wonderful time last weekend at the Gaithersburg Book Festival!

We really enjoyed chatting with all the other authors, and met a lot of new readers along the way! Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table!

More of our photos from BookFest can be seen here!

Lizzy Anne's Animal Fun Facts

We're drafting a new Lizzy Anne short about Lizzy's trip to the zoo! Enjoy some of these fun facts about animals!

Did you know that:

• House flies taste with their feet
• No two zebras that have the same stripe pattern
• In the summer, a queen bee can lay up to 2,000 eggs a day
• A frog's tongue grows from the front of its mouth
• Snakes hear by sensing vibrations
• Cats have powerful night vision
• Elephants have pink tongues
• There are about 400 million dogs in the world
• Over the years, dogs have formed such bonds as pet and companion, worker, and Man's Best Friend
• Jack rabbits can reach the running speed of 45 mph
• The average turtle swims at a pace of 10 to 12 mph, and can walk 3 to 4 mph
• Giraffes are among the world's tallest mammals
• A giraffe's hair is around 10 times thicker than a human's hair
• The spots on a giraffe's fur are good camouflage to protect them from predators
• A male giraffe weighs between 2,400 and 3,000 pounds
• A giraffe's tongue is a bluish-black color
• Most giraffes live in the grasslands or open woodlands of the African Savannas
• Tiger cubs will leave their mother between 2 and 2 1/2 years of age
• Tigers usually hunt at nighttime
• The killer whale is the fastest of the whales and has been known to swim at 25 to 50 mph
• Certain sharks have been know to swim as fast as 40 to 50 mph
• A cow only sleeps 2-3 hours each day

Volume 3: The Fancy Restaurant

Volume 3: The Fancy Restaurant

When Grandma Nana calls to talk about a surprise she has for Lizzy Anne’s parents, Lizzy wants to contribute something too!

For the Ryans’ anniversary, Grandma Nana decides that she’s going to take the family to a fancy French restaurant. When Lizzy’s mother says that she has nothing fancy to wear, Lizzy and Missy team up to buy Mrs. Ryan a gorgeous gown.

When the funds in the piggy bank fall short, Missy comes to the only logical conclusion: a Super Duper Car Wash!

Pick up a copy and join Lizzy Anne in some good, clean, car-washing fun!

Lizzy Anne's Adventures Fun Facts

Try out this fun mini-quiz about Lizzy Anne and her friends! To see the answers, highlight the space next to the questions.


What is Lizzy Anne's favorite color? Red
What is the name of Lizzy Anne's brother? Ollie
Who is Lizzy Anne's best friend? Missy Maxwell
Where does Lizzy Anne live? Lincoln County
What grade is Lizzy Anne in? Third grade
What is the name of Lizzy Anne's teacher? Mrs. Blume
What is the name of the school Lizzy Anne goes to? Lincoln Elementary
What is the name of Lizzy Anne's puppy? Jack
What kind of puppy does she have? Beagle
What is Bruce's nickname? B.B. - or "Big Bad Bruce"!
What language does Lizzy Anne try out at her car wash? French
What are the names of the ponies that Lizzy Anne had at her birthday party? Pumpkin and Lollipop
What did Lizzy Anne forget to pack for her play? Her fishing rod
What was Lizzy Anne's job at The Jet? Newspaper delivery
What did Lizzy Anne overhear her parents talking about when she eavesdropped on them? Moving

Happy Valentine's Day from Lizzy Anne and co.!

Elizabeth's hair is red,
Lizzy's eyes are blue,
Happy Valentine's Day,
From the whole cast and crew!

Volume 2: Lizzy Anne and the Hollywood Puppy

Lights, camera - puppy?!

Little puppy Jack has finally settled into the house, but Lizzy Anne is as excited to have him around as ever. When Father gives Lizzy Anne permission to use the camcorder, she gets the idea of making a movie of Jack.

As Lizzy is preparing Jack to be a Hollywood star, she is also busy rehearsing for her own school play. In the rush between fulfilling her promise to play with Jack and getting ready for the play, Lizzy forgets her fishing pole prop - but she ends up with quite the surprising onstage guest instead!

Pick up a copy and discover who is the secret star of the show!

New Video + Event Reminder!

Get an inside look at how Lizzy Anne’s Adventures is printed – video-style! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1NkEf4GepE

And don't forget about the Meet the Author & Illustrator event this Thursday! http://lizzyannesadventures.blogspot.com/2011/07/meet-author.html

Volume Two: Lizzy Anne's New Puppy

"Man's best friend" has become "girl's best friend"!

Bouncing off the walls from the day's start, Lizzy Anne skips out the door singing "Today is the day I'm going to get my new puppy!" Her parents try to calm her down, as does her neighbor Mr. Williams, but even he is swayed towards liking dogs by Lizzy Anne's enthusiasm. There was also quite the comical trading card anecdote – avid collectors would know exactly how the little Mr. Williams would feel!

Lizzy Anne and Missy spend a while daydreaming about their new puppy before they leave for the rescue. It's love at first sight for Lizzy Anne - and the next story continues the puppy love!

Pick up a copy and find out just what this puppy is like!

Volume Two: Lizzy Anne's 8th Birthday Party + Event Reminder!

Happy birthday, Lizzy Anne!

A cake, balloons, a clown, and even ponies! The excitement is just too great when Lizzy Anne starts thinking about her birthday party. Throughout the entire school day, she is distracted by thoughts of how wonderful her birthday is going to be.

When the day arrives, Lizzy Anne jumps for joy! Soon after that, the guests start arriving and the chaos begins; flowers appear out of nowhere, sack races are won, and Bruce gets the pony ride of his life!

Pick up a copy and celebrate with Lizzy!

And don't forget about the Meet the Author & Illustrator event, coming up in October! http://lizzyannesadventures.blogspot.com/2011/07/meet-author.html

Mark Your Calendar!

Don't forget about the Meet the Author & Illustrator event, coming up in October! http://lizzyannesadventures.blogspot.com/2011/07/meet-author.html

Meet the Author and Illustrator (event)!

Meet the Author!

Come meet children’s author Sharon Wagner-Zarrella and illustrator Vidya Vasudevan!

The “Lizzy Anne’s Adventures” team will be at the Urbana Regional Library in Frederick, Maryland on October 20^th. Come see us at 3:00 p.m.!

Writer Sharon Wagner-Zarrella was born in Washington, D.C., and moved to Prince George’s County, Maryland, when she was five. She is the eldest of three children. Later in her life, she applied for a secretarial position with the Department of Navy. After getting married and having a daughter, she took to being a stay-at- home mom. In addition to her daughter, she is also the mother of five spoiled dogs.

She began writing 10 years ago and quickly found a passion for children's books. In the past few years, she has published three picture books (ages 1-4) and a children's series called “Lizzy Anne's Adventures” (ages 5-10). She is currently working on more volumes of “Lizzy Anne’s Adventures” and various picture books.

Her family has been the primary source of inspiration for her work, and she loves writing children’s books because she enjoys the challenge of forming and developing just the right characters for her stories and bringing a smile to a child’s face.

Illustrator Vidya Vasudevan was born in India, but from the age of one, lived in Africa where her Dad worked. She was in Uganda for five years and Mozambique for ten. After high school, she pursued higher studies in Kerala, India. She found that every state in India has its very unique culture, climate and landscape as well as language. The scenes and experiences in the varied regions of India give her inspiration in her illustrations and designs.

She graduated in English Literature and then continued her post-graduation in the same field. Her passion has always been in a field unrelated to her studies, and that is illustration. At a very young age, she would gaze at her favorite children’s book illustrations and think, “I would like to do that one day!”

She got a job at an animation company where she worked for a year. During this time she got married and joined her husband in the US after six months. She now works as a children’s book illustrator and a graphic designer as well as a full-time mother to two children.

Leave a comment if you will be attending! Hope to see you there!

Volume One: Eavesdropping

A super-new spy kit leads to a super-new discovery when Lizzy Anne overhears something potentially drastic – her family might be moving again!

Secret Agent Lizzy Anne decides not to keep her newfound news a secret, and ends up spreading it around the neighborhood. Soon enough, the whole school, including the principal, is under the impression that she will be leaving!

Follow Lizzy Anne as she attempts to clean up the mess that she doesn’t even know she’s made, and join her as she figures out the consequences of eavesdropping and making assumptions!

Pick up a copy and find out why Lizzy Anne is not destined for a career in the CIA!

Character Introductions

Meet Lizzy Anne and her friends!

Lizzy Anne - Hi, my name is Lizzy Anne Ryan and I'm eight years old. I have a very best friend in the whole universe named Missy Maxwell. I go to Lincoln Elementary School. I'm in the third grade and I’m also in Mrs. Blume's class. I have a baby brother named Ollie who is eight months old. My favorite color is red.

Missy Maxwell – Hi, my name is Missy Maxwell and I am eight years old. I have a very best friend in the whole universe named Lizzy Anne Ryan. I go to Lincoln Elementary School. I'm in the third grade and I’m also in Mrs. Blume's class. I have three older brothers whose names are Jeremy, Joshua, Tristan. My favorite color is green.

Bruce Brown – Hi, my name is Bruce Brown. I’m Lizzy Anne’s friend. I am eight years old, and go to Lincoln Elementary school. I'm in third grade, Mrs. Blume's class. My favorite color is orange. I have three younger sisters and three older brothers so I guess you could say I’m stuck in the middle. My sisters’ names are Ruby, Rhonda, and Rhoda. Try saying those names three times fast! My older brothers’ names are Brian, Ryan, and Regan. Now try saying all six names really fast!

Jeffery Miller – Hi, my name is Jeffery Miller and I’m eight years old. We just moved into the neighborhood. My parents bought the house down the street from Lizzy Anne. It’s pretty cool! So now I go to Lincoln Elementary School. I’m in the third grade and I’m also in Mrs. Blume's class. I deliver The Jet newspaper. My favorite color is gray.

Elizabeth Webster – Hi, my name is Elizabeth Webster (just like the dictionary!) and I am eight years old. I am a friend of Lizzy Anne. I go to Lincoln Elementary School. I’m in the third grade and I’m also in Mrs. Blume’s class and I get straight A's. My parents tell me we have royalty in our family. My favorite color is pink. My favorite flowers are white roses; they are fit for a princess.

Cindy Shepard – Hi, my name is Cindy Shepard. My family just moved here from Chicago, better know as the Windy City. I am eight years old and I go to Lincoln Elementary School. I'm in the third grade and I’m also in Mrs. Blume's class. I have twin sisters who are younger than I am, and their names are Abigail and Rachel. My favorite color is purple. I started swimming when I was three years old and now I am on a competitive swim team.

See what tomfoolery they get up to in Lizzy Anne’s Adventures! You can purchase a copy of Lizzy Anne’s Adventures at www.lizzyannesadventures.com, www.amazon.com, or at your local bookstore!