Monday, November 07, 2011

Interview with Rana DiOrio

 Today on Straight From Hel, we have Rana DiOrio, author of the What Does It Mean To Be …? series of books for children. Rana is an investor, investment banker, lawyer, and the mother of three children. She is also the founder and CEO of Little Pickle Press which is dedicated to helping parents and educators cultivate conscious, responsible little people by stimulating explorations of the meaningful topics of their generation through a variety of media, technologies, and techniques. Her latest and fourth in the series is called: What Does It Mean To Be Safe?

Little Pickle Press (LPP) creates beautiful picture books that are also environmentally friendly. Not only are the books visually appealing, though, they are also mentally appealing and provide chances for kids to read alone or with a parent.

Please welcome Rana DiOrio.

Q: Rana, your series has won awards and now, with this new book, you’re tackling a subject that all parents worry about – how to keep their kids safe, but it’s not necessarily an easy one to address with kids. How did you first approach the idea of safety for kids?
I find that children first identify with physical safety and what that means. Once I have them engaged, then we explore social, emotional, and cyber safety as well. The take-away messages of this book are two-fold: (1) listen to your inner voice and it will tell you when you are not safe (most children know what I mean by "inner voice", even very young children; if they require an explanation, I tell them it is the "2 Is"–––intuition and instinct.); and (2) if your inner voice is telling you that you are not safe, seek the help of a trustworthy adult.

 Q: In this book in your What Does It Mean To Be …? series, you explore physical, emotional, social, and cyber safety. That’s a lot to tackle for a children’s book. How were you able to write it in such a way that it would be clear yet not frightening to children – or parents, for that matter?
 I think that Sandra Salisbury's thoughtful and soft illustrations go a long way towards making the topics approachable and not frightening. The book is designed to start conversations between children and their grownups about these various types of safety and how we can all remain safe.

Q: You’re an investor, investment banker, lawyer, and the mother of three children. Plus, you’re also the founder and CEO of Little Pickle Press. When do you find time to write?
On airplanes! True story––I wrote What Does It Mean To Be Safe? during several transcontinental flights.
Thank you Rana DiOrio.

You can find out more about Little Pickle Press at their blog or website. Little Pickle Press is also on Facebook and Twitter.

You can find out more about What Does It Mean To Be Safe? at the Little Pickle Press shop. You can buy a copy there, too! Remember, Christmas is fast approaching. Plus, for joining us today for this interview, you can get free shipping and a SAFE poster made of TerraSkin, the tree-free paper, with your order. Just enter BBTSAFE at check-out.

Click here to see the book trailer for What Does It Mean To Be Safe?

I bet I’m not the only one with questions for Rana DiOrio. I hope everyone who stops by will say “hi” in the Comments Section or use that chance to ask a question of your own.

24 comments:

  1. This is so relevant and am glad you had her on Hel. Thanks

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  2. Dropping in to hello. I'll be back to help with questions if there are any. Love working for Little Pickle Press! Thanks, Helen. You always are the best blog book tour host ever. :)

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  3. Every parent needs to buy this book! Buy several. What great Christmas presents they will be. And she wrote it while zooming through the sky. Wonderful! :-)

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  4. I do have a question as well as a comment. My comment is that Safe? and the other What Does It Mean To Be…? books provide interactivity between adult and child – asking questions and discussing possible answers. Many adults really don't know where to start when talking about being Present? or Green? or Global? or Safe?. These books provide a map for us to follow with many side trips as we learn about the issues and end up having reached the goal of understanding. Thanks for having Rana discuss writing them Oh, and my question is when does Rana's next book come out? ☺

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  5. Thanks so much for hosting, Helen. You're the best! As for when my next book comes out, I don't have an answer for that. But I can share the title with you. The next book I will write is What Does It Mean To Be Different? Thanks for your interest and support, everyone! ~ Rana

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  6. I didn't realize Rana was so talented and so busy. Now I'm inspired to do something great today! Good luck with your very busy life and with Little Pickle Press!

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  7. Great idea to write practical books that are not only cute, but also helpful for children to get along.

    Morgan Mandel
    http://www.morganmandel.com
    http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

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  8. I love that we're starting this tour off with a great interview. Thanks, Hel!

    Pamela
    http://www.redwhiteandgrew.com
    @redwhiteandgrew on Twitter

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  9. This is a great way to tackle a difficult issue for parents. Youngsters sometimes won't listen to what adults have to say. This way they can learn without realizing they are. A great series.

    Mason
    Thoughts in Progress

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  10. Ms. DiOrio's topics and messages are timely and beautifully communicated in terms that all can relate to and understand. Very important contributions for children and their trusted adults.

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  11. I am excited to be part of this blog tour - I look forward to finding more great blogs like this one!

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  12. Rana, with this series, you've created fabulous tools for opening conversations about these timely topics. When I read WDIMTBSafe? to my 6yr old nephew there were many things that he had never thought about before. Because of the non-threatening way to broach this topic, he really enjoyed it, and, more importantly, understood it. Thank you. And, thank you, SFH, for this terrific interview!

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  13. I had no idea Rana was also the co-founder of Little Pickle Press. Love their books! And I thought this was a really great picture book for teaching kids about safety including issues like bullying and listening to your inner voice.

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  14. I totally get writing on the plane. I have trouble just sitting and traveling for long distances. I would definitely be writing, editing, revising!

    Congrats on the new book.

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  15. Hi Rana, I am looking forward to hosting you next week at the Internet Review of Books. I hope your valuable series gets lots of attention.

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  16. It's a really wonderful thing to watch my 3 year old answer the questions at the beginning of "What Does It Mean to be Safe?" Our reading time at the end of our busy days, is so sacred and I appreciate how Little Pickle Press books invite discussion about important topics and in a way that kids can understand and ask questions about them. I shall try to contain my excitement upon learning here about an upcoming book about what it means to be different!

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  17. All the books in this series sound so interesting and look so appealing. Wish I had the funds to buy them all!

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  18. Rana, that sounds like a great title - and it could go in a lot of different directions!

    Leslea, you also meet some interesting people on planes. I was editing for a client on a flight and struck up a conversation with a guy who was writing a book himself.

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  19. Cameron Crane11/07/2011 6:58 PM

    Thank you, Helen, for hosting Little Pickle Press today. I think one of the most important things that this interview highlighted was that this book can be used as a tool to initiate and encourage continued conversation about safety.

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  20. Good beginning to the book tour, Helen. I agree that the new book, What Does it Mean to be Different, will cover an important topic. Bigotry thrives on great chasms between cultures and people.

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  21. Rana, your What Does It Mean? series was a brilliant idea.

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  22. I am thrilled, blessed and fortunate to work with the brilliant Rana....and look forward to more "What Does It Mean" titles to join this exceptional series!

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  23. Sounds like a great series. I like her approach. :)

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  24. There are so many different subjects to write for children and I think you're doing a great job. Good on you, Rana.

    My Darcy Vibrates…

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