RJ's Adventures in Temecula by Eva Legre Zigre

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Eva Legre Zigre will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Please enjoy an interview from the author:

Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?

In my years as a nanny and volunteer teacher, I have noticed the importance of reading children’s books to children! I have been driven to write fictional and non-fictional children’s books from a tender age. The combination of reality and the fantasy world is a wonderful thing!

What research (or world-building – for fantasy/paranormal/Sci-fi) is required?

I do in-depth research on the places, cities, and stories mentioned in the book. It is important that the places represented in the book reflect reality, as RJs Adventures is meant to create a sense of community, cherish old memories, and create new ones.

Name one thing you learned from your hero.

The importance of engaging children’s senses through reading (sight, touch, hearing, smell…)

Do you have any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?

Looking at the sunrise and the birds flying freely in the sky sparks a lot of imagination.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

Both! My ideas come as a pantser, as a general idea and rough draft. And I plot as I write the stories in detail.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

My couch pillow (cover sheet world map)! My reminder that the world is closer than we think and the magic it carries is greater than we imagine!

Anything new coming up from you? What?

Another book in the RJ’s Adventures series.

Do you have a question for our readers?

What city would you like to see in a children’s book?

If you've had a chance to visit Temecula, California, you'd be one of many who have had the privilege of watching hot air balloons take flight during sunrise and descend at sunset, walking the grounds of one of the most beautiful rose gardens in California, and visiting a rare and noble tree that looks to have stood the test of time. You will find some of the most popular and heavily visited sights in Temecula, beautifully illustrated and captured in child-like conversation.

RJ’s Adventures in Temecula is a vibrantly colored board book featuring thirteen of Temecula’s most visited attractions. The illustrations jump off the page, offering children fun images to look at while learning more about Temecula, California’s historic sights.

Beware. Your child may ask to visit some of the attractions presented in this 20-page book, such as Professor Pennypickles' Workshop or the Sugarplum Zoo and Chocolates. Come visit for a week, but first, do your research and take this adventure around Temecula, California with RJ.

Read an Excerpt

Hello Friend!

My name is RJ.

Welcome to the beautiful and sunny city of Temecula. Today is a great day to show you around!

Are you ready for an exciting tour?

About the Author

Eva Legre-Zigre is a children's book author passionate about writing stories that reflect the beauty of communities. Inspired by years of experience as a nanny and a volunteer teacher, she crafts engaging stories that encourage creativity and wonderment in children. Her passion for community, culture, and finding beautiful differences in various states throughout the country gives her the desire to share those unique and exciting places with children.

A resident of Temecula, California, known for its wineries, Mrs. Legre-Zigre was inspired by her own child to find and highlight family- and child-friendly attractions in her city. Some of these attractions are featured in her debut book.

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/authorevalegre
Website: http://www.rjsadventures.com

Top Ten Tuesday: Children's Books

Growing up in a single-parent home, money was normally tight; however, I never remember feeling that we were missing out on anything. Mama was great at making do. For Christmas, she always bought us at least two new board games ("I could buy a board game for the price of going to the movies," she told me one time, "and we'd get enjoyment for a much longer time.") and, of course, books.

Every year, I'd get books for Christmas--and I loved them. Many of them were the little Wonder Golden Books--a bargain at 99 cents each (and, yes, I know I'm dating myself here.) Then there were the Disney and Peter Pan Read-Along books and records ("SEE the pictures, HEAR the record, READ the book."). As I got older, I graduated to chapter books. So...here are some of the books I remember best growing up.

1. This was my favorite book for years. I could identify with Biff the Bear--no matter which trick he tried, he messed it up. In the end, though, his mishaps led to a HEA for Miss Polly... see romance loving even back then!!

2. Grandpa shares his wonderful magnifying glass and it's amazing what the kids can see!

3. Sam and Bam were early NASA astronauts...I was intrigued by the space program. Watched the first space launch while I was in kindergarten, so this book stuck with me.

4. What was in that tree? A fun read.

5. To this day, I can't think of The Gingerbread Man without hearing the song in my head: "I've run away from a little old woman, I've run away from a little old man..... and a cow! And I can run away from you, I can."

6. I was given the entire set of Anne books--and I fell in love.

7. I don't remember where I got this book, but it's another one I remember fondly. I found a copy in a vintage store a few years ago and bought it.

8. My love for mysteries also started at an early age. Walt Disney put out a series of mysteries starring Annette Funicello from The Mickey Mouse Club, and I loved her convertible!! I think that's why, to this day, I would love to own one.

9. Trixie Beldon, along with Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, also fueled my life-long interest in mysteries.

10. This was a sweet book that I remember loving as a kid. It's been years since I've read it...:::marking it down on my To-Be-Re-Read list:::

So...there you have it. Ten books I remember well from my childhood. I was always a voracious reader (things haven't changed much), so there are many others that I've read...but that's for another day.

Looking forward to seeing other memories of books gone by.