lullabies

NC Author’s First Children’s Book Gets Rave Review

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Midwest Books’ Bookwatch calls Sleep, Little Child “entrancing.”

February 16, 2011 (CHARLOTTE, NC) – Sleep, Little Child, author/composer Marc Hoffman’s new children’s book with accompanying CD, has received a glowing review from Midwest Book Review’s senior reviewer Nancy Lorraine on “Bookwatch.”

Sleep, Little Child is based on an original lullaby Hoffman wrote years before he decided to turn it into a picture book. It answers a child’s question about who will watch over him through the night after his parents are asleep. The author performs the lullaby on the accompanying CD. Other tracks include spoken-word readings and an all-instrumental version.

Calling the book and CD “entrancing,” Lorraine writes: “The rhyming lullaby lyrics are gently

The CD that accompanies the lullaby book.

reassuring to the young child that while he goes to sleep, he is watched and cared for by his heavenly Father, as well as by his earthly father.”

She calls the book’s original watercolor illustrations by artist Tony Waters of Charleston, SC, “both appealing and inviting to prepare to embark for Slumberland. Little comical details of the boy’s favorite stuffed monkey — whose eyes wake and sleep in sync with the boy’s — will be carefully noted and cherished by sleepy toddlers.”

She concludes: “Sleep, Little Child is an ideal bedtime experience to offer to sleepy, squirmy children ages two through seven, to help them settle into sound and healthful slumber.”

Sleep, Little Child is published by Virillion Music of Salisbury and retails for $17.95. It is currently carried by The Literary Bookpost in Salisbury, NC, Blue Bicycle Books in Charleston, and on Amazon. For more information, visit www.sleeplittlechild.com and the book’s Facebook page.

 

Composer/author Marc Hoffman.

About the author:

Composer/pianist/vocalist Marc Hoffman received his degree in composition from the North Carolina School of the Arts and studied film composition at USC. He also attended The Dartington International Summer School of Music in Devon, England. His composition teachers have included David Ott, Leo Arnaud, Neil Hefti, and Sherwood Shaffer. A member of BMI and the American Composer’s Forum, he is also founder and artistic director of the Salisbury School of Music. He lives in Salisbury with is wife, Anne, and their daughter August. For more information on Marc Hoffman and his work, visit www.marchoffman.com. He is also available on Facebook under Marc Hoffman Music, on MySpace, and on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb.com). Agent: Brandon Crumpton, Key Signature Entertainment, 704-249-5907, brandon@keysignatureonline.com.

 

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“Sleep, Little Child” Makes Holiday Giving List, Receives Praise From Reviewer

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December 8, 2010 (SALISBURY, NC) – When the Salisbury Post asked the local independent bookseller, the Literary Bookpost, to suggest books that would make good Christmas gifts, children’s section director Daphne Safrit included Sleep, Little Child in her top picks.

 

In the Sunday December 5th edition of the Salisbury Post, Safrit called the new picture book “a unique gem of a find for little ones from local children’s author and composer Marc Hoffman that comes complete with a CD. Autographed copies are available for an added special touch.”

 

The Literary Bookpost also named Sleep, Little Child as its Picture Book of the Month for December. In September, it was the store’s bestseller and Safrit predicted it would be again during the holiday season.

 

And in upstate New York, book review Sally Owen, author of the blog “In My Opinion” calls Sleep, Little Child a “wonderful children’s book that is illustrated beautifully and holds a very special message for your little ones…I was thoroughly impressed!”

 

Owen is also running a giveaway contest for a free copy of the book. Directions for how to enter the contest follow the review.

 

Sleep, Little Child is based on an original lullaby by author/musician Marc

The CD is tucked in a pocket in the back cover.

Hoffman of Salisbury. Illustrated by Charleston artist Tony Waters, it is a rhyming story in which a father assures his young son that he will sleep safely through the night because his heavenly Father is always watching over him. The book is intended for children from infancy through age seven.

 

Sleep, Little Child includes a CD tucked in a pocket inside the back cover that features Hoffman performing his original lullaby. Other tracks offer the instrumental-only version, plus two non-musical readings: one by the author and another by the author’s mother, radio personality Barbara Hoffman.

 

Published by Virillion Music, Sleep, Little Child is available at the Literary Bookpost, on the website www.sleeplittlechild.com, and on Amazon. For more information and to hear the lullaby, visit www.sleeplittlechild.com.

 

To see the entire “Books for Holiday Giving” list in the Salisbury Post, go to:

http://www.salisburypost.com/Entertainment/120510-book-holiday-picks-qcd.

 

To read Sally Owens’ review, go to http://CouponsAndFreebiesForYou.blogspot.com and click on “Sleep, Little Child Review & Giveaway.”

 

 

About Sleep, Little Child:

 

Synopsis: As babies grow into little children, there comes a time when they realize that, like themselves, Mommy and Daddy sleep at night, too. Where, then, is the watchful eye to look over them all night? Where are the protective arms to keep them safe when they close their eyes and drift away into dreams? “Sleep, Little Child” answers these questions with simple verse, soft music, and compelling illustrations. Composed and sung by Marc Hoffman and illustrated by Tony Waters, “Sleep, Little Child” is a lullaby with a comforting message: that Someone strong, loving and more powerful than even Mommy and Daddy is right there with all little children, keeping them safe and warm, and greeting them with the morning light. Publisher: Virillion Music. Retail price: $17.95. www.sleeplittlechild.com.

Author Squad Bookshop To Host “Sleep, Little Child” Signing, Live Performance

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Marc Hoffman, author, "Sleep, Little Child"

Author/musician Marc Hoffman brings his new children’s book to Huntersville

 

November 1, 2010 (HUNTERSVILLE, NC) —  Musical composer-turned-author Marc Hoffman will bring his new children’s book and CD, Sleep, Little Child to  the Author Squad Bookshop & Publishing Center in Huntersville, NC, on Friday, November 19, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

 

The child-oriented book signing will include a reading of the book, Hoffman’s live performance of the original lullaby on which the book is based, and other family-fun activities. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to the event.

 

Sleep, Little Child, with accompanying CD, is the first in a series of children’s books planned by Salisbury, NC, native Marc Hoffman, with illustrations by Tony Waters of Charleston, SC. Through simple verse, gentle music and compelling illustrations, the book answers children’s questions about who is watching over them while they sleep.

 

Hoffman wrote the lullaby several years ago and credits his wife, Anne, and their young daughter, August, with the idea to turn it into a children’s book.

 

“As soon as August was born, we began reading books and singing lullabies to her,” he said. “It didn’t take me long to remember that I had a lullaby of mine own. And after hearing the song many times, it dawned on Anne that it was a natural fit as a children’s book.”

 

Published by Virillion Music Books, Sleep, Little Child will be available for purchase during the book signing and performance. To reserve copies, contact author@authorsquad.com or call 704-892-7274.

 

The Author Squad Bookshop & Publishing Center is located 10109 Northcross Center Court, Suite 140, Huntersville, NC 28078. Huntersville is 10 miles from Charlotte on the shores of Lake Norman. For more information, visit www.authorsquad.com.

 

For more information on Sleep, Little Child, visit www.sleeplittlechild.com.

 

About Sleep, Little Child:

 

Synopsis: As babies grow into little children, there comes a time when they realize that, like themselves, Mommy and Daddy sleep at night, too. Where, then, is the watchful eye to look over them all night? Where are the protective arms to keep them safe when they close their eyes and drift away into dreams? “Sleep, Little Child” answers these questions with simple verse, soft music, and compelling illustrations. Composed and sung by Marc Hoffman and illustrated by Tony Waters, Sleep, Little Child is a lullaby with a comforting message: that Someone strong, loving and more powerful than even Mommy and Daddy is right there with all little children, keeping them safe and warm, and greeting them with the morning light. Publisher: Virillion Music. Retail price: $17.95.

 

About the author:

 

Composer/pianist/vocalist Marc Hoffman received his degree in composition from the North Carolina School of the Arts and studied film composition at USC. He also attended The Dartington International Summer School of Music in Devon, England. His composition teachers have included David Ott, Leo Arnaud, Neil Hefti, and Sherwood Shafffer. A member of BMI and the American Composer’s Forum, he is also founder and artistic director of the Salisbury School of Music. He lives in Salisbury with is wife, Anne, and their daughter August. For more information on Marc Hoffman and his work, visit www.marchoffman.com. He is also available on Facebook under Marc Hoffman Music, on MySpace, and on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb.com). Agent: Brandon Crumpton, Key Signature Entertainment, 704-249-5907, brandon@keysignatureonline.com.

New Children’s Book with CD Tops Bookstore’s Bestsellers List

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The Literary Bookpost reports Sleep, Little Child as its bestseller Sunday.

September 7, 2010 (SALISBURY, NC) – On Sunday, September 5, the Salisbury Post reported that Sleep, Little Child, the new children’s book with accompanying CD by Marc Hoffman of Salisbury, NC, made the top of The Literary Bookpost’s bestsellers list.

This announcement follows the official launch of the picture book two weeks ago at the downtown Salisbury bookstore. The author, musician/composer Marc Hoffman, was on hand to perform the originally lullaby he wrote that inspired the book and to sign over 100 copies that sold that day.

Illustrator Tony Waters of Charleston, SC, also attended the book signing party, which included special activities and surprises for over 50 children who came to hear Hoffman perform the song. They also heard radio personality Barbara Hoffman read the book.

The CD accompanying the book includes multiple tracks of the lullaby, from Hoffman singing it to a read-along instrumental version.

According to Deal Safrit, owner of the Literary Bookpost, the book signing event for Sleep, Little Child was the “best sales day since our grand opening and it will be our Christmas seller.”

Safrit noted that people are buying the book not only for their own children and grandchildren but also as gifts for baby showers, birthdays and other events.

The new book’s Sunday sales bested such popular offerings as Ford County by John Grisham and Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

Sleep, Little Child is a rhyming story in which a father assures his young son that he will sleep safely through the night because his heavenly Father is always watching over him. The book is intended for children from infancy through age seven. For more information and to order the book, visit www.sleeplittlechild.com.

About “Sleep, Little Child”:

Synopsis: As babies grow into little children, there comes a time when they realize that, like themselves, Mommy and Daddy sleep at night, too. Where, then, is the watchful eye to look over them all night? Where are the protective arms to keep them safe when they close their eyes and drift away into dreams? Sleep, Little Child answers these questions with simple verse, soft music, and compelling illustrations. Composed and sung by Marc Hoffman and illustrated by Tony Waters, Sleep, Little Child is a lullaby with a comforting message: that Someone strong, loving and more powerful than even Mommy and Daddy is right there with all little children, keeping them safe and warm, and greeting them with the morning light. Publisher: Virillion Music. Retail price: $17.95. www.sleeplittlechild.com.