Do you remember any family traditions from your childhood? Do you include those traditions for your kids and family now?  Have you invented your own new family traditions?

Old or new, family traditions are a fun way to bring everyone together to create lasting, loving memories.

No one realizes how important family traditions are than Vanessa Roam. All of her life, Vanessa has loved stories. She sought to foster a love of reading with her own children by writing stories. Something both unique and treasured … a family tradition.

Vanessa’s award-winning book A Remnant Surprise combines her passion for encouraging literacy with her grandmother’s love of crafting. This is the story of children Gretchen and Walter making quilts with their great-grandmother, and the wonderful gift of love that comes with creating things for and with different family members.

Spark creativity with family traditions

MCA: Hello Vanessa! We would love to hear more about your motivation for creating A Remnant Surprise?
Vanessa: Originally, I wrote the text for my children so they had practice material while I was teaching them to read. The story is inspired by my 92-year-old grandmother. She spent many years creating handmade gifts. I told her that I wrote a story, and she asked me to publish it.  I would never tell my loving Grandma “no”!

I was the mother of young children who were trying to mastering reading fluency. I am still someone who understands the value of literacy. So the idea of publishing a book for this reading level was very exciting for me. I am so thankful to be able to contribute to the selection of material for this important stage in a child’s development.

MCA: There are so many layers of “family traditions” here. I’m sure it wasn’t always easy to fit the pieces together. What was a challenge you faced in bringing your book to life?
Vanessa: One of my biggest challenges was making time to give my best work to the book and my future readers.

When I looked at the big picture it seemed like an impossible mountain standing in my way. Then I learned that if I did just a little bit at a time, I had a chance. Those little bits would come together in the end, just like Great-Grandma’s quilt did.

MCA: What kind of response have you had from people reading A Remnant Surprise? Has it been a positive one?
Vanessa: The response from A Remnant Surprise readers has been overwhelmingly positive. I am tremendously grateful that so many people are enjoying the story so much.

I had hoped so dearly that the children who heard or read this story would be engaged and inspired, and thankfully I have received many reports of this being so.

However, I was not expecting such emotional, heartfelt responses from so many adult readers! I really enjoy hearing loving memories, from our adult readers’ past that have been rekindled by reading this book. Mostly I love to hear about how this book is being used to augment family time by inspiring hands on multi-generational projects or as a peaceful ending to the day as a warm and cuddly bedtime story.

MCA: That is wonderful! Other than creating new family traditions, what other contributions do you think A Remnant Surprise has brought for families?
Vanessa: I’m not really sure what my most important contribution has been, but I have tried to do my best every step of the way. I want to bring A Remnant Surprise to the people who have influence over the books in children’s lives.

I began bringing the idea to reality the evening I first wrote the story, and I was an active participant during the entire publishing process of this project. I developed a website where people can learn a lot about the book.On the website, I have also provided free activity ideas and coloring pages to help parents and teachers make the most out of their copy of the book.

Maybe the most important contribution I made was doing my best to find a publisher with manufacturing facilities in the USA, to produce a quality, sturdy book for the hands of growing children around the world!

MCA:  If developing A Remnant Surprise has changed your life in any way, please share it with us!
Vanessa: From the morning my family first read this story, right up to winning the Gold Mom’s Choice Award® and even beyond, I’m sure this project has been a tool in weaving our family just a little tighter. It has been very touching for me to know that I have been able to contribute something to my family and to the world that has had a positive impact. This project has ignited sparks of love, hope, and courage in many people already and I am in awe that I have been a part of something so special! 

MCA: We are so glad you’ve had such a good experience. Now looking ahead to the future, what’s next for you?
Vanessa: There are many exciting things happening over this next year for us.

I am happily anticipating interacting with more of our readers. I am again working with Tate Publishing on my next children’s book, Tippy Tip, where Gretchen and Walter (the same beloved siblings from A Remnant Surprise) have a new adventure in life when one of their goat kids is born with weak legs.

I hope A Remnant Surprise will be traveling the world while I am busy at home teaching and caring for our children and encouraging and assisting my husband on our farm. We will continue to keep everyone updated on the latest news on our website.

MCA: Thank you for sharing your story of family traditions with us, Vanessa! We can’t wait to see your next book.

Mom’s Choice Awards® Honors

A Remnant Surprise
by Vanessa Roam
Children’s Picture Book
Gold – Family Life

Contact, Connect, and Network with Vanessa

The Alumni Spotlight is a periodic feature on the official Mom’s Choice Awards® blog. It is part of our ongoing effort to “shine the spotlight” on you and your award-winning, family-friendly products, services, and media.