(SACHSE, TX — April 26, 2021) – Frog Pond Publishing is thrilled to announce the release of “Just Kick It,” a story of soccer and courage for children ages five and up.
Meet Rihanna, a new player on the Lady Lions soccer team. She is nervous and afraid when the time comes to play her first game with players she’s never played with before. She hides most of the game, but when Coach calls her in, she must find the courage to help her teammates on the field.
“Just Kick It” is a story of newness, fear, and courage with a big dose of soccer as the backdrop. According to Sharon Jones-Scaife, author and illustrator, “I wanted to address the fears that all children have when embarking upon something new. It could be a new team as in Rihanna’s story, or a new school, or even a new classroom as we see with virtual learning during the pandemic. The process of overcoming fear is the same regardless of the situation and that is the focus of this book.”
Children will not consciously pick up the intent of the story. They will be captivated by the vibrant, energetic artwork, clever wordsmithing, and happy outcome. But adults will applaud the approach Jones-Scaife promotes, which includes support, encouragement, experience, and modeling; all combine to move children from fear to courage.
“Just Kick It” releases in time for the spring soccer season. But the book is not only appropriate for soccer players. Children who play any sport or no sport at all will appreciate this story. Children will enjoy seeing themselves in the main character as she moves through the school day, to the soccer field, then home, victorious.
One book reviewer wrote of Jones-Scaife’s story, “I love the story. The theme, the spirit, all the characters in the story are so positive. I plan to pre-order a copy so I don’t miss out.”
“Just Kick It” is available for pre-orders now through May 3rd at bookstores nationwide and from online retailers. It is available in all formats: hardcover, paperback, and ebook. The official release date is May 4th and expanded distribution will be available at that time for international sales.
As a companion piece to “Just Kick It,” a 76-page coloring and activity book will release with it on May 3rd. The companion book is filled with fun, challenging puzzles, coloring pages, mazes, word searches, activity pages, and more.
For more information on “Just Kick It,” the companion book, or for a list of personal appearances by author Sharon Jones-Scaife, please visit coffeecreekmediagroup.com or call 972-442-6000.
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About the Author/Illustrator
Sharon Jones-Scaife grew up in Marvell, Arkansas, the fourth of 15 children. As one can imagine, she spent a lot of time reading to younger siblings. She parlayed that experience into writing stories her grandchildren love to read. When not writing and illustrating children’s books, Jones-Scaife publishes Teen Graffiti, a magazine that serves as a voice for teens. She is active in modeling, acting, running, cycling, and of course reading “big people” books. Other books by Jones-Scaife include I Miss You Papa, Mrs. Hughes is Missing, It’s Bedtime Lil’ Marco, Lil’ Marco Plays Hide and Seek, Maddie on a Mission, Kindness, It’s In You, and Becoming, a collection of original poems and illustrations. Jones-Scaife is available for media interviews and can be reached at sharon@coffeecreekmediagroup.com.
About Frog Pond Publishing
Located in Sachse, Texas, Frog Pond Publishing was founded in 2018 as the children’s book imprint of Coffee Creek Media Group. Frog Pond’s philosophy is simple: to publish a small number of themed titles each year so each book lands in the hands of the young reader who needs it most. Themes include grief, adoption, managing emotions, and more. For a complete catalogue of titles, visit coffeecreekmediagroup.com.
