Carren Strock

When I wrote my rhyming picture book, “Grandpa and Me and the Park in the City,” I based it on Kolbert Park, the park down the street from where I live. There was a ground breaking ceremony this afternoon because the park is going to be completely renovated. I attended, and gave a copy of my book to the media relations person. But I was stunned when City of New York’s Parks & Recreation Commissioner, Mitchell Silver, began to speak: he held up my book and said, this park is so special that it had a wonderful book written about it. He acknowledged me and thanked me for writing it.

“Grandpa and Me and the Park in the City,” written and illustrated by Carren Strock, celebrates the bond between a child and his grandfather and the rewards that effort and persistence can bring. Braden is a seven-year-old who spends time with his grandfather during the summer months. Although he lives in the country, Braden discovers that city-life has its attractions. He especially enjoys the park, with its swings, slides, and monkey bars. However, the day comes when Braden outgrows childish things, and he is disconsolate. Fortunately, Grandpa has some pleasant activities in mind that anyone can enjoy, such as Tai-Chi.

The author celebrates diversity, showing people of different ages, ethnicities, shapes, and sizes enjoying city life together. In addition, she uses rhyme effectively, making this a good choice for a read-aloud. The illustrations are awash with eye-catching pastel colors. However, Strock’s drawings of facial expressions and the human body in motion are not as strong as those depicting apartment houses, stores, and the park.

“Grandpa and Me and the Park in the City” leaves us with a warm feeling. The connection between a growing boy and his devoted grandparent can be precious and lasting, and it is heartening to watch Braden mature and learn practical skills and values from his wise and loving grandfather.

Grandpa and Me and the Park in the City, my first rhyming picture book for children just came out. It had me, once again, stepping out of my comfort zone as I wrote and illustrated  it. This project began fifteen years ago. I woke very early one morning and went for a walk. As I passed the park,  I saw a large group of people doing Tai Chi. They invited me to join them and I was reminded of the fun I used to have in the park with my dad when I was little. I used my cousin and his small grandson as models for my book. Then my project was replaced by several other books I was working on and only recently went back to it. Mathew is now in college. I tell this story to remind myself that when the right time comes, I do get my work done.

Tangled Ribbons, a paranormal romance, and my latest book, has a publication date of April 7, 2015.

Back cover:
Unexplained sexual longings, and fragments of unidentified images, consume Jenna’s Earth-life, and she dies with those haunting questions unanswered—but for her, death is not the end.

Although Jenna finds herself on the Celestial Tableland—a land of Spirits—her existence is interwoven with Bev’s, a woman in her last Earth incarnation. Bev helped Jenna to die, and now Jenna must help Bev to meet Anne, her soul mate, as the two women are destined to become a Perfect Pairing. But Cornelia, a vengeful Spirit, will stop at nothing to destroy this pairing.

Unless she can discover the cause of Cornelia’s rage, Jenna will be unable to help Bev. But Jenna’s investigation only leads to more questions: Why is Cornelia out to destroy this Perfect Pairing? Why is Cornelia’s past hidden from her? Why do no other Spirits see Cornelia’s destructive behavior? And what do the other souls who call out to Jenna have to do with Cornelia?

Eventually, Jenna’s search leads her to some surprising answers—and to a forgotten past of her own.