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Every Creature Has Value
Alex’s Scuba Diving Thrills: Discovering Fish Species follows a curious young diver and his turtle companion on an underwater journey that introduces sea creatures while teaching respect for marine life. What inspired you to create Alex and his sea turtle companion, Tony?
Alex was created out of a desire to give children a character they could follow with excitement, curiosity, and a sense of wonder. I wanted Alex to be adventurous, brave, and open to learning, because those are qualities I believe every child should be encouraged to develop. Tony, the sea turtle, was the perfect companion because turtles represent wisdom, calmness, and a deep connection to the ocean. Together, Alex and Tony create a friendship that feels safe, uplifting, and full of discovery. I wanted young readers to feel like they were swimming right alongside them, exploring a world that is both beautiful and worth protecting.
How did you choose which sea creatures Alex would encounter on his underwater adventure?
I chose the sea creatures with young readers in mind. I wanted to include marine life that children would recognize, enjoy, and be excited to learn about, while also introducing them to a wider variety of ocean animals. Each creature was selected to bring something special to the story, whether it was color, movement, mystery, or beauty. I wanted the underwater journey to feel vibrant and alive. At the same time, I wanted every encounter to help children see that the ocean is filled with incredible life and that every creature has value and a place in that world.
What do you hope young readers learn about respecting marine life and ocean habitats?
I hope young readers come away with a sense of awe, but also with a sense of responsibility. The ocean is not just a place for adventure; it is a living habitat that deserves our care and respect. I want children to understand that marine life is precious and that even at a young age, they can learn to appreciate and protect the natural world. If this story helps a child become more curious, more thoughtful, and more mindful about how we treat animals and the environment, then it has done something meaningful.
Are there more adventures planned for Alex, and where might his curiosity take him next?
Absolutely. Alex was created to be a young explorer whose curiosity can lead him into all kinds of meaningful adventures. On my website, readers can already see that his journey continues through different worlds and experiences, from bull riding and the circus to scuba diving, scouting, and even aviation. That is what makes Alex special. He is always learning, always discovering, and always finding wonder in the world around him.
Where might he go next? Anywhere that sparks imagination, courage, and growth. He may explore new places, take on new challenges, or discover lessons about kindness, responsibility, faith, and perseverance. I want every Alex book to open a new door for young readers and remind them that learning can be exciting, adventure can be wholesome, and curiosity can lead to something beautiful. As long as there are new horizons to explore, I believe Alex still has many adventures ahead of him.
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Visual Variety
Alex the Circus Clown: Learning Colors is Fun! invites young readers into a vibrant circus where Alex and his clown friends turn learning colors into a playful, rhyming celebration. What inspired you to use a circus setting to teach children about colors?
I chose the circus setting because it naturally brings color, energy, and excitement to the page. When children think of the circus, they usually picture bright balloons, costumes, laughter, and fun, so it felt like the perfect place to introduce colors in a way that would immediately capture their attention. I wanted learning to feel playful, not forced.
Alex the Circus Clown gave me the opportunity to create a world that feels joyful and inviting for young children. The circus is full of movement, imagination, and visual variety, which made it a great fit for teaching something as basic but important as color recognition. It also allowed me to use rhythm and rhyme in a way that feels lighthearted and entertaining.
More than anything, I wanted children to connect learning with happiness. If a child can smile, laugh, and enjoy the experience while also learning their colors, then the book has done what I hoped it would do.
How did you decide which colors to include, especially more specific shades like maroon, copper, aqua, and olive?
I wanted the book to go beyond just the basic colors children usually learn first. Of course, those foundation colors matter, but I also wanted to introduce them to a wider range of shades in a fun and natural way. Children notice more than we sometimes give them credit for, and books can be a simple way to expand their vocabulary early.
Colors like maroon, copper, aqua, and olive were included because they add variety and make the book feel richer and more interesting. The circus gave me the freedom to do that. It is such a colorful world that it did not feel out of place to include shades that are a little more unique. Balloons, costumes, props, and decorations all gave me room to bring in those colors in a playful way.
I also liked the idea of giving parents and teachers something extra to work with. A child may not remember every shade right away, but hearing those words early helps build familiarity. It opens the door for conversation, repetition, and curiosity, which are a big part of learning at that age.
For me, it was really about making the book more engaging while also giving children a broader and more colorful learning experience.
The illustrations are full of motion, pattern, and personality; how did you envision the visual style of Alex and his clown friends?
I wanted the visual style to feel lively, warm, and full of joy. Since this book is for young children, I pictured Alex and his clown friends as friendly, playful, and inviting rather than exaggerated or overwhelming. I did not want anything harsh or distracting. I wanted children to look at the characters and immediately feel comfortable, curious, and ready to turn the page.
The movement was important to me because the circus is never still. In my mind, everything in that world has energy—balloons floating, costumes bouncing, clowns performing, and color everywhere. I wanted the illustrations to reflect that sense of motion and excitement so the book would feel alive from page to page.
The patterns and bright details were also intentional. Since the book is about colors, I wanted the artwork to do more than just support the words. I wanted it to help carry the learning. The costumes, props, and backgrounds gave me the chance to fill the pages with visual variety in a way that keeps children engaged while reinforcing the colors they are seeing and hearing.
As for Alex and his friends, I envisioned them each having their own personality while still fitting together as part of the same cheerful circus world. I wanted them to feel expressive, fun, and memorable. My goal was for children to connect with them, not just as characters in a lesson, but as friends leading them through a colorful adventure.
What do you hope parents, teachers, and caregivers take away from reading this book with children?
I hope they take away that learning can be simple, joyful, and shared. For me, this book is not just about teaching colors. It is about creating a moment where a child can learn, smile, and feel encouraged at the same time.
I hope parents, teachers, and caregivers see that early learning does not have to feel like pressure. It can be fun, lighthearted, and full of imagination. Sometimes the best learning happens when a child is relaxed, engaged, and enjoying the experience.
I also hope the book gives adults a chance to interact with children in a meaningful way. Whether they are reading aloud, pointing out colors, or talking about their favorite pages, those small moments matter. They help build vocabulary, attention, confidence, and connection.
More than anything, I hope this book leaves them with the reminder that children learn best when learning feels like joy.
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ALEX’s SCUBA DIVING THRILLS: Discovering Fish Species
Alex’s Scuba Diving Thrills: Discovering Fish Species follows young Alex as he dives into a bright underwater world with Tony, his sea turtle companion, meeting jellyfish, blowfish, trumpetfish, tuna, lionfish, parrotfish, squid, lobsters, crabs, sharks, and a gentle seahorse before returning to shore. It’s part adventure, part ocean creature tour, and part reminder that wonder often comes with caution, curiosity, and respect for the world around us.
What I appreciated most was the book’s big-hearted sense of discovery. The story has a sweet, almost dreamlike rhythm, with Alex gliding from one sea creature to the next as if the ocean itself is opening little doors for him. I liked that the book doesn’t just make the sea look magical. It also quietly teaches boundaries. Don’t touch the jellyfish. Give the eagle rays room. Stay low when sharks pass overhead. Those moments gave the adventure a steadier, more thoughtful feeling, and I could see them sparking good conversations with a child who loves animals but is still learning that admiration and respect belong together.
The writing is enthusiastic and colorful. The language has a cheerful, eager quality, like someone telling a bedtime story with real affection in their voice. The artwork throughout the book is fantastic. The pages are saturated with the ocean’s deep blues and glowing corals, smiling turtles, and schools of fish that make the ocean feel inviting. Some scenes are almost too busy, but for a young reader, that abundance may be part of the fun. There’s always something to point at, name, count, or ask about.
Alex’s Scuba Diving Thrills is a tender and visually rich ocean adventure with an earnest educational heart. It has charm, momentum, and a genuine love for marine life. I’d recommend it for children who are fascinated by sea creatures, especially preschool and early elementary readers who enjoy bright illustrations, gentle adventure, and stories that make learning feel like play.
Alex the Circus Clown: Learning Colors is Fun!
Alex the Circus Clown: Learning Colors is Fun! follows Alex through a lively circus world where each new clown friend introduces a pair of colors through balloons, toys, circus acts, and playful rhymes. The book moves from familiar shades like red, blue, yellow, and orange into more specific colors such as maroon, violet, copper, tan, aqua, rose, olive, and cream. By the end, Alex and his bright little troupe have turned color learning into a full circus performance, complete with a maze and word search for extra fun.
As a parent, I appreciated the book’s big-hearted enthusiasm. It has the feel of someone genuinely trying to make learning feel like celebration, not homework. The writing is simple, repetitive, and very direct, which works well for young children who like knowing what comes next. The rhymes are abundant. The book doesn’t whisper its lesson. It tosses confetti, blows up balloons, and says, “Look, you know this now!” I found that kind of encouragement warm, especially for kids who respond to praise and repetition.
The artwork is easily the book’s strongest pull. Every page is packed with glossy color, smiling faces, patterned costumes, balloons, circus lights, and cheerful motion. This is a book about color, after all, and the illustrations lean all the way into that promise. I liked how each clown has a distinct look and personality, even when the story itself stays focused on the learning pattern. The images give children plenty to point at, name, and talk about, which makes the book feel more interactive than the text alone.
I found Alex the Circus Clown to be a bright, earnest, high-energy color book with a lot of affection behind it. For preschoolers who love clowns, balloons, movement, and bold pictures, it has real charm. I’d recommend it especially for parents, teachers, or caregivers looking for a cheerful read-aloud that reinforces color recognition in a playful, visually rich way.
Grit, Courage, and Heart
Alex the Bull Rider-Riding Bulls from A – Z follows a fearless young rider who takes on a thrilling bull-riding adventure filled with challenges tied to the letters A to Z. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration came from several places that are close to my heart: my love for storytelling, my respect for the Western way of life, and my nephew, Alex, who inspired the character himself. Alex has always had this outgoing personality and a rambunctious spirit about him. He’s curious, fearless, full of energy, and the kind of kid who isn’t afraid to jump into something new. Watching him grow and seeing that spark in him became a big part of the motivation behind these books. I wanted to create a character that captured that same spirit. At the same time, I’ve always admired the grit, courage, and heart of bull riders. Bringing those worlds together felt natural. This book became a way to combine adventure, learning, and life lessons into a story kids could connect with, while also honoring the spirit of a young boy who helped inspire it all.
Each bull represents a different letter. Was it challenging to match names, personalities, and visuals to every letter?
Absolutely, it was a challenge, but honestly, it was one of the most enjoyable parts of creating the book. I didn’t want the bulls to just be names on a page. I wanted each one to have its own personality, attitude, and presence, almost like they were characters of their own. Some letters came easily, while others made me sit back and really think. I’d ask myself, What kind of bull would this letter be? Would he be wild, smart, stubborn, explosive? Bringing each bull to life with a name, look, and personality took time, but that creative process is what made the story special.
Alex falls, gets back up, and keeps trying. How important was it to include that message for young readers?
That message was probably the most important part of the entire book. Life is going to knock all of us down at some point, kids included. I’ve lived enough life to know that success usually doesn’t come without setbacks, failures, and moments where you question yourself. But what defines us isn’t the fall, it’s the decision to get back up. I wanted kids to see that Alex isn’t fearless because he never falls. He’s brave because he keeps climbing back on. If a child reads this book and walks away believing they can keep going after a hard day, then I’ve done my job as an author.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
Without giving away too much, I can say Alex’s journey is far from over. My vision for this series has always been bigger than one book. I want to take young readers on adventures that entertain them, teach them, and open their imaginations. Alex may step into new worlds, whether that’s the circus, the ocean, the skies, or even becoming a young detective solving mysteries. Wherever he goes, one thing will stay the same: Alex will keep showing kids the value of courage, curiosity, character, and believing in themselves. That’s the heart of every story I plan to tell.
Author Links: Facebook | Website
Alex the Bull Rider-Riding Bulls from A – Z
Alex the Bull Rider introduces readers to a young boy named Alex as he takes part in an exciting bull-riding event while also learning the ABCs. The story begins with a bull named Ace and ends with a bull named Zeus, taking readers on an entertaining alphabetical journey through Alex’s adventurous experience. This clever structure gives the book both educational value and a strong sense of momentum, making it easy for young readers to stay engaged from beginning to end.
Written by Al Leal, Alex the Bull Rider is an energetic and imaginative book filled with bright, eye-catching illustrations. One of the most enjoyable parts of the story is the way each bull’s name matches a different letter of the alphabet. That detail feels fresh and creative, and it adds an interactive element that helps hold a child’s attention. Each bull also has a distinct look and personality, which makes every page feel lively and new. The illustrations invite readers to pause, observe, and talk about what they see, adding even more value to the reading experience.
Alex is portrayed as courageous and determined throughout the book. Bull riding is an intense sport, so his willingness to keep trying stands out. I especially liked that Alex took breaks when needed and continued even after falling off the bull more than once. That part of the story offers an important message for young readers about perseverance, resilience, and not giving up after setbacks. It also shows that competition can be enjoyable and rewarding.
Another fun feature is the bonus material at the end of the book, including a word search and a maze. These activities add to the overall appeal and make the book even more engaging for children. I highly recommend Alex the Bull Rider for young readers who enjoy action, adventure, and creative learning.
Pages: 40 | ISBN : 979-8-9951169-0-5
