In “Perspective Detective,” readers join a clever bear detective on an adventure to find a lost teddy while learning valuable lessons about empathy, problem-solving, and open-mindedness. What inspired you to create this creative children’s book?

My inspiration behind Perspective Detective originated out of my belief that any given situation has more than one way of looking at it. I wanted to share this large concept and simplify it into an entertaining, rhyming mystery story for young readers. I wanted to further simplify the complexity of perspective by showing and not simply telling the story, by somehow making it interactive.

All that being said, the idea behind Perspective Detective had been slowly materializing in the back of my mind for a long time coming, even while simultaneously writing several other stories. I’d sporadically jot down ideas that popped into my mind, walk away from them for a while, then revisit the ideas later, which eventually led to the fruition of Perspective Detective.

How did you come up with the idea of incorporating optical illusions and puzzles into the story, and what do you hope young readers will gain from these elements?

As my idea continued to develop into a more solid storyline, revolving around perspective taking, the idea of utilizing optical illusions and visual puzzles to visually represent that “things can be seen from more than one angle” would complement the storyline. After a lot of brainstorming and a lot of brain-wracking, I challenged myself with new forms of illustrating; exploring pointillism and optical illusions.

What advice would you give to parents and educators who want to use your book to start conversations with children about empathy, open-mindedness, and effective communication?

I hope that my book will help expand children’s open-mindedness, empathy and effective communication skills through its uniquely interactive plot. I suggest reading the book with children in a classroom environment or in a one-on-one setting and then opening up conversation by asking them how they might feel in a peer’s situation, like Axel and Lexa’s? Or even in a hypothetical and relatable imaginary circumstance; e.g. “how would you feel if your friend, ‘Timmy’ broke your toy?”

I like to do a simple perspective activity that accompanies my readings, by taking a piece of paper with two different images on either side. Then I ask the child(ren) what they see on one side (their side), while keeping my side hidden, I explain what I see from my side. I encourage a peaceful debate, until the paper is flipped over to reveal that there is always more than one way of looking at any given situation. Rather than arguing, the more effective option is to discuss the situation and imagine how the other person might be feeling. This demonstrates the lesson of putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I just released a new book called Catch Up!, which targets a younger audience. It is a progressive story, following an everyday simple object- a ketchup bottle cap, as if rolls off a family’s picnic table. Along the way, the cap becomes many different things to a variety of animals in a park. Creativity, perspective and recycling are all among the themes intertwined in this interactive story that will have your little ones guessing what’s next.

I plan to release a couple more books in the very near future, as well. In addition to my forthcoming releases, I also have several other books in various stages, on deck. One of which is a sequel to Perspective Detective, so be on the lookout!

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