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It Has Been All About The Journey
The Adventures of Cathy the Catfish and Sammy the Swan follows two best friends who live in a pond and learn how much their friendship means to them. What was the inspiration for your story?
I provide security for an insurance company in Little Rock, Arkansas. They have a beautiful spread of a property. One of my duties is to ride around on a golf cart and check out the property. In the back of the building, there is a nice pond that many different animals frequent throughout the day. One day, I noticed a crane by the bank of the pond picking off small fish. I thought, what an unusual friendship that would be: bird and fish. Many children do not know what a crane is, but know of swans. The idea of two characters and a storyline came to me and I went back inside and started writing. The story was written in under 20 minutes and it just took off from there.
What educational aspects were important for you to include in this children’s book?
My target audience for this book is Pre-K and Kindergarten. This story teaches our young that not only can two different animals from different backgrounds come together and become friends, but they can do so in the same environment. This is an extremely important lesson for our children to learn, especially in today’s world. Even if they do not entirely grasp this concept, putting it in their ears is imperative.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
In my experience, it has been all about the journey. I received my Masters of Science in Sport Administration in December of 2021. During the process of getting my degrees, I wrote hundreds of papers. I would always joke that it would be nice if I could write something that would benefit me other than scholastically. When I started having success, I began kicking myself for not writing projects sooner. Then I realized that it took the journey for me to get here. I wasn’t ready at that point in my life.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have 5 books ready for production. I am waiting on illustrations before I can pitch them to my perspective publishers. My plan is to publish two books by the end of 2023, including a Christmas sequel that I’m calling: Christmas on the Pond; A Cathy and Sammy Story. I wish I had more of a definitive answer on the others, but I am playing the waiting game as well. In the meantime, I will enjoy watching Cathy and Sammy. It’s almost award season!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
By: Adam Houchins
Sharing a pond, Cathy the Catfish and Sammy the Swan become good friends. This is the story of their friendship and a memorable life lesson. Giving children a platform to think, ask questions, and learn, author Adam Houchins hopes this book will create smiles and family bonds.
About the Author
Adam Houchins is a father of four children and an uncle to two, and they will always inspire him. Houchins is currently a graduate student at Arkansas State University, and he is from Jacksonville, Arkansas. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and has been to twenty-four countries. Houchins is also an avid sports fan and a history buff.
The Adventures of Cathy the Catfish and Sammy the Swan
Cathy, the Catfish, is an energetic and friendly fish. She enjoys swimming around her pond and meeting new animals. One day she met Sammy the Swan, and they became instant best friends. They would spend hours every day playing and splashing around their pond home. Then, one day while playing, Cathy disappeared. Sammy didn’t know what had happened to her at first, but soon he saw her on the end of a fishing line. What would Sammy do without his best fish friend?
The Adventures of Cathy the Catfish and Sammy the Swan by Adam Houchins is a heartwarming picture book about friendship. The illustrations are cheerful and expressive. Children unable to read yet can follow the story of Cathy and Sammy without having to read the words. This makes it an excellent storybook for quiet reading time and beginning readers in preschool.
Adam Houchins has shared an important message about friendship and kindness in this short children’s book. He shows how people can still form friendships even when they are different. The fisherman shows great compassion by setting Cathy free. When Sammy realizes how much Cathy means to him, children can reflect on their friendships and develop a greater appreciation for their friends because they never know when something can change.
The Adventures of Cathy the Catfish and Sammy the Swan is a touching children’s book that will leave readers with a smile. This picture book would make an excellent addition to a home or school reading shelf and can generate wonderful discussions with children on how to treat others.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0B7KGLG6K
LITERARY TITAN 