SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: Light the Sky, Firefly
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://sherimabryinc.com/
CITY: Cedarburg
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 353
262-326-0110
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in WI; married; children: daughters.
EDUCATION:University of Wisconsin, Madison, B.S. (education), M.A. (curriculum and instruction).
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, educator, and artist. Teacher on the elementary-grade level for thirty years; affiliated with Gifted and Talented Program. North Shore Academy of the Arts (nonprofit arts school), founder, president, and instructor. Balancing Arts Yoga and Well Being Studio, Grafton, WI, owner and instructor. Willow Words Literary Agency, founder and literary agent. Author of educational and business materials.
MEMBER:International Meditation Teachers Association.
AWARDS:Eureka! Gold Award and Magnolia Book Award in PreK-Grade 2 category, both 2018, both for Good Trick, Walking Stick!
WRITINGS
Author of teacher guides and of The Mindfulness Journal: Peaces of My Day, privately published. Contributor to periodicals, including Family Fun, Highlights for Children, Story Friends, and Yoga International; contributor of articles and columns to Wisconsin-based periodicals.
SIDELIGHTS
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, February 1, 2016, Julia Smith, review of Good Trick, Walking Stick!, p. 36.
Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2016, review of Good Trick, Walking Stick!
ONLINE
Sheri Mabry website, https://sherimabry.com (October 23, 2019).*
You might find me kayaking down a creek, hiking a mountain in Colorado, searching for morels in early spring in a Wisconsin forest, or wandering along the edge of a rainforest on a beach in Costa Rica. I feel at home in the wild and it's what inspires me. If I'm not on the trail, I might be in my painting studio, in the midst of writing a book, on the mat, or editing. All is a part of my life work, which is steeped in purpose and passion. It all begins with the beautiful questions...
What is that space between ideas and the creation-where passion and inspiration are blended? That space that dreams and aspirations, wonderment, awe and faith are found-nestled between the inhale and the exhale? I am drawn to the process of how an idea becomes what curiosity, exploration, and good intention guide it to be. This is why I dedicate myself to being a creator-of stories and books, paintings, jewelry, places, classes, businesses, peace and well being. The sacred creation of one's life for the highest good. Passion to purpose. Unifying nature around and within as wild-inspired, spirit-ful experiences, products and places... to...Live Your Light!
All that I offer is interwoven into a tapestry of what I find meaningful and beautiful, expressed through creativity and the simplicity of Being. Into each product and offering, I bring wisdom from the great teachers I've had and continue to learn from. Each of the cornerstones of what I feel is inspired by beautiful questions is touched upon in my work-beauty around and within-exploring, expansion and expression. If you work with me with writing services, you’ll feel the gentleness of my nature-inspired approach and the peacefulness of yogic arts. If you join a yoga class, you’ll learn a bit about your own nature as we nurture creativity through movements, breathing and stillness. The intention of my art and books is to share with others, my experience of what beauty is in the world, the way I interpret it.
Thank you for your time spent with me. I'm glad our paths have crossed.
Education. Certifications. Memberships. (more related credentials are on each corresponding page)
BS in Education -UW Wisconsin, Madison
MA in Curriculum and Instruction-Louis University
Member -SCBWI
Certified Experienced Yoga Instructor
Certified Meditation Instructor
MA Reiki Teacher
Thai Yoga Level I
Sheri Mabry Bestor, author
Jonny Lambert, illustrator
Sleeping Bear Press
315 East Eisenhower Parkway, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
www.sleepingbearpress.com
9781534111158, $17.99, HC, 32pp
https://www.amazon.com/Light-Sky-Firefly-Sheri-Bestor/dp/1534111158
Synopsis: Fireflies (also known as lightning bugs) are some the world's most fascinating and illuminating insects. It is also one that many children can find right in their backyards! With a simple story, perfect for read-alouds, and colorful illustrations, "Light the Sky, Firefly!" is scientific look at a firefly's life-cycle will captivate little entomologists. Informative sidebars are included that let children learn even more about these amazing insects.
Critique: Informatively written and charmingly illustrated, and also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.09), "Light the Sky, Firefly!" by the team of author Sheri Bestor and artist Jonny Lambert will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to family, elementary school, and community library wildlife picture book collections for children ages 6-9.
Editorial Note #1: Sheri Mabry Bestor is a literary agent with Willow Words Literary Agency. She maintains two websites: www.sheribestor.com and www.willowwords.agency
Editorial Note #2: Currently residing in Wisborough Green, England, Jonny Lambert has illustrated with over 300 titles. He is also a designer, a paper engineer, and most recently, served as Group Design Director at Templar Publishing.
Please Note: Illustration(s) are not available due to copyright restrictions.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/index.htm
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Light the Sky, Firefly!" Children's Bookwatch, May 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A707298996/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=057f1d09. Accessed 20 Aug. 2022.
Bestor, Sheri Mabry LIGHT THE SKY, FIREFLY Sleeping Bear Press (Children's None) $17.99 3, 15 ISBN: 978-1-53411-115-8
A glowing chronicle of the life cycle of a firefly, from tiny egg to luminescent adult.
Bestor and Lambert's latest collaboration for bug-curious readers starts with a firefly laying a clutch of eggs under some leaves in the summertime. A month later, small, six-legged larvae emerge. The quickly growing larvae spend their autumn nights hunting snails and slugs, preparing to hibernate underground and molt all winter. When springtime comes, the baby fireflies unearth themselves only to build and enter "a mud chamber" that allows them to transform into their final form: winged, long-bodied insects with a glimmering rear end. The simple main text appears in various sizes and colors, helping to emphasize various details for dramatic effect. Small-print informational tidbits, which use more sophisticated vocabulary, appear on the bottom of each full-bleed spread and will engage older children with additional context. Newer readers can easily skip these parts without losing the narrative thrust of the book. Thanks in large part to Lambert's captivating, cut-paper-style images, this title truly offers something for everyone, particularly in the beautiful nightscapes full of fireflies that close out the book. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Like a gleaming field of fireflies, it's tough to take your eyes off this mesmerizing book. (Informational picture book. 5-10)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Bestor, Sheri Mabry: LIGHT THE SKY, FIREFLY." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Apr. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A700219751/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=5309d043. Accessed 20 Aug. 2022.
Mabry, Sheri BEING MINDFUL LIKE GRANDPA Whitman (Children's None) $16.99 9, 1 ISBN: 978-0-8075-0614-1
A young child learns to cope with the stress and fears of moving by using some mindfulness techniques Grandpa teaches.
On one of their last hikes together before the big move, Grandpa gives the narrator a smooth pebble, calling it a calming stone, to keep in a pocket for whenever worry-thoughts happen. Rubbing the stone will soothe anxious feelings while the child thinks of something that elicits gratitude. In their new town, miles away from Grandpa, the young family of color embarks on a new hike, on a new path. With the calming stone in a handy pocket, the child’s worries are still there, but slowly, with the help of some mindful observations about the natural things quit being mindful all around and some slow, deep belly breaths Grandpa taught, the child’s anxiety begins to ease. Nature scenes of a brisk autumn day complement the soothing atmosphere. The author’s note provides several simply applied mindfulness strategies, which have been effectively demonstrated throughout the narrative. This will serve as a great introductory lesson for discussion and understanding as schools adopt mindfulness in their daily routines and children are increasingly required to navigate the stressful pressures of today’s world.
A necessary theme explored in an easily understood and accessible story sequence. (Picture book. 5-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Mabry, Sheri: BEING MINDFUL LIKE GRANDPA." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A671783082/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=99beb2fa. Accessed 20 Aug. 2022.
Mabry, Sheri MY MINDFUL WALK WITH GRANDMA Whitman (Children's Fiction) $16.99 4, 1 ISBN: 978-0-8075-7072-2
A young girl is so excited to share a surprise with her grandmother that she begins their hike together in a distracted rush.
Spending time with Grandma is clearly a joy for the young child. The girl enthusiastically hurries along through the woods, hoping to catch a glimpse of the loons on the lake, but Grandma takes the time to notice the sights and sounds of the forest. She gently reminds her granddaughter that "if we keep looking for there, we will miss what is right here." The child accepts this invitation to pause. She closes her eyes, stills her body, connects with her breath, and then is able to notice the tiny treasures the forest has to share, like the rustle of leaves and the colorful pop of spring flowers. The quality of this title's narrative sets it apart in the growing mindfulness-for-children genre. The depiction of a special intergenerational relationship is the clear priority of the story. Rather than using the narrative to instruct readers in mindfulness (this is saved for the backmatter), mindfulness practice is authentically embedded into the interaction between the two characters. The illustrations, awash in green and somewhat nostalgic in styling, complement the narrative and successfully transport readers to a lush forest brimming with life. Both narrator and Grandma present white.
Clearly demonstrates the sense of connectedness--to nature, others, and self--that mindfulness practice can bring. (Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Mabry, Sheri: MY MINDFUL WALK WITH GRANDMA." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Feb. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A612619115/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ce1943de. Accessed 20 Aug. 2022.
Mabry, Sheri THE KID AND THE CHAMELEON Whitman (Children's Fiction) $12.99 4, 1 ISBN: 978-0-8075-4179-1
Social and science lessons disguised in an early reader.
In this series opener, Tessy, a self-absorbed girl, meets a chameleon named Newton. She wants to be friends, but only on her terms. Newton is not so sure--especially when Tessy expects him to act like a kid. The conflicts continue through five chapters. "Jars are not [his] thing"; "picnics are not [his] thing," either. But "rock sitting" and changing colors are not her things. Sometimes the problem is language; sometimes the problem is because they are different species. Eventually, they find something they can enjoy together: watching the sun set and the moon rise. The second book in the series, The Kid and the Chameleon Sleepover (published simultaneously), gives readers six further chapters about the conflicting views of these improbable friends. Kids who can get past the heavy-handed message about respecting differences will benefit from the practice reading short sentences (often of just one or two words) with predictable parallel structures and simple repetitive vocabulary. Five to 10 lines of text per page are set in a large, well-leaded serif typeface against mostly white backgrounds dotted with full-color illustrations. A final page of "Chameleon Facts" explains the science alluded to in the story. Tessy has beige skin and fluffy, brown hair.
Not as simpatico as Frog and Toad nor as clever as Amelia Bedelia but useful for skill development. (Early reader. 5-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Mabry, Sheri: THE KID AND THE CHAMELEON." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Mar. 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A575952144/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a477d8aa. Accessed 20 Aug. 2022.
Bestor, Sheri Mabry GOOD TRICK, WALKING STICK Sleeping Bear Press (Children's Picture Books) $16.99 3, 1 ISBN: 978-1-58536-943-0
Stick insects have tricks that make them highly successful creatures. Designed for reading aloud, Bestor's two-level text provides an overview of a walking stick's life. A simple, circular narrative begins in winter, with eggs hidden under the snow, and goes through spring hatching, a summer of community leaf-eating and predator evasion, and autumn egg laying (with or without fertilization); it ends with winter and spring again. Onomatopoeic phrases such as "Munch. Munch," "Drop, plop. Drop," and the titular refrain are printed in extra-large display type. Child readers are sometimes addressed directly in smaller-print paragraphs on each spread. These describe more complex events and use more specific language than the primary text: the way ants hide the eggs, mistaking them for seeds; the exoskeletons these insects shed (molt) as they grow; feet designed for climbing; and defense mechanisms, including camouflage, quaking, autotomy--the loss and replacement of an appendage--and even parthenogenesis. Though walking sticks are sold as exotic pets, the author helpfully suggests admiring them in the natural world instead. The stylish, probably computer-generated art resembles work done with cut paper; stylized images of the insects, the branches, leaves, berries, and flowers around them, and the ground below are set on a white background for each spread. Elements from these images make up the endpapers. A nice addition to the nature shelf. (Informational picture book. 4-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Bestor, Sheri Mabry: GOOD TRICK, WALKING STICK." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Jan. 2016. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A541695321/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d178283b. Accessed 20 Aug. 2022.