Blog Archives
Change Can Be Scary
Take My Patty follows a young girl as she adapts to the changes happening with her grandmother and learns about the early stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Was the story influenced by personal experiences with a loved one experiencing memory loss?
Yes, the story was inspired by my special bond with my grandmother, Marie Werner. My grandma was my special person, and she lived with Alzheimer’s for about ten years. Though the book is fictional, I pulled from real memories of the funny words and phrases she used, and our special routines together. The heart of the story comes from the way she always made me feel loved, even when her memory continued to fade.
What do Emma’s observations reveal about the ways children notice and respond to changes in someone they love?
Emma’s observations show that children are very perceptive. Children want to be involved and are caring with their loved ones. They can empathize and meet people where they are, on their level. That said, change can be scary. The story takes Emma and Grandma on a journey, both inward and outward, where Grandma ultimately needs more help and has to move. Emma doesn’t love that idea, which is relatable. In time, she learns that the move is okay. Her grandma is in a better place, and she’s still able to visit her and continue making memories.
What do you hope young readers recognize about the importance of maintaining loving connections with older family members?
I hope young readers will recognize that life is constantly changing and our relationships are precious. Older family members can give so much comfort, as can young people. As much as Grandma comforts Emma, Emma’s companionship is comforting to her as well. I also want young readers to embrace making new memories. Alzheimer’s is a diagnosis, and people can live a long time with it. New memories can be made, and loving relationships can remain, even if they look different.
How can parents and caregivers use Emma’s experiences to encourage children to express their own questions or concerns?
This book is a gentle way for parents and caregivers to open up the conversation around aging grandparents and memory loss. This topic shouldn’t be swept under the rug. I think it’s important to talk through questions and concerns kids have, I and hope this book can be used to bridge the subject. Some of the things Emma does, like keeping their routines when grandma moves, are really important for those with Dementia. Having a safe environment is important too. Even though moving Grandma is hard, this book shows that it’s a safe option. The book can be used as a way for kids to open up about their own observations with their loved ones and tackle some of the unknowns.
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But Grandma’s memory is starting to fade, and soon she needs more help than Emma can provide. As Grandma prepares to move somewhere new, Emma worries. Will Grandma remember all the special things she does with her granddaughter?
With a heartfelt message, this book offers comfort to those experiencing the early stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia, and reassurance to the loved ones who walk alongside them.
Take My Patty
Take My Patty, written by Alison Hayes, is a children’s book about the close bond between a child and a grandmother whose memory is changing. What drew me in was how much personality Grandma has from the start. She’s someone with her own expressions, favorite activities, and familiar ways of making her grandchild feel at home. Hayes builds their relationship through the sort of everyday moments kids remember: making snacks, playing cards, and heading outside together. That gives the book a comfortable, lived-in feeling and makes its more difficult subject feel connected to people readers can care about.
Grandma’s language is one of my favorite parts. Words like “davenport” and “icebox” give her a voice you can almost hear, while her playful names for ordinary things capture how families develop their own little vocabulary. The title comes from her way of asking her grandchild to hold hands, which is a lovely detail to build a story around. The child’s narration is direct and believable, especially in the way affection and uncertainty sit alongside each other. Hayes gives young readers room to recognize confusing feelings, and the short passages and conversational dialogue make the book easy to share aloud at an unhurried pace.
Soft, textured color fills the spreads, with sunny yellows, gentle greens, and autumn oranges making Grandma’s world feel familiar and inviting. The rooms are full of things worth stopping to notice, including kitchen molds, a patchwork blanket, and family photographs. I especially liked the attention to hands, faces, and the way the two characters lean toward each other. Those gestures make their affection visible. The artwork also varies its viewpoint, moving between broad scenes and close details, so there’s plenty for children to explore while an adult reads. Changes in light and color help carry the shifts in mood.
I really enjoyed the book’s attention to what a child notices when someone they love begins to need more support. Familiar routines matter, small changes can feel big, and wanting to help comes naturally. There’s enough emotional weight here to invite questions, so I’d choose a time when there’s room to pause and talk. Families experiencing a loved one’s memory loss may find the child’s perspective especially useful, while other readers can connect through their own relationships with grandparents or caregivers. Take My Patty offers a thoughtful shared reading experience, with a distinctive grandmother, an affectionate young narrator, and pictures that reward a closer look.
Pages: 32 | ISBN : 1645388220
Where the Kaleidoscopes Turn
Where the Kaleidoscopes Turn, by Joan Enockson, follows Cody, an eleven-year-old boy who’s carrying the quiet sting of a rough school year, as he visits his grandpa in Pocahontas County, Iowa. What begins as a family trip becomes a tour of giant kaleidoscopes scattered through small-town parks, each one opening into a memory, a lesson, or a new way of seeing the world. With Grandpa Russell, Cody’s new puppy Molly, and the legacy of Leonard Olson guiding the story, the book becomes less about sightseeing and more about learning how beauty, community, and perspective can change a person from the inside out.
I really appreciated the heart of this book. I felt drawn to the way it treats Cody’s unhappiness without making it too heavy for young readers. He’s not written as a dramatic problem to solve. He’s a child who is hurt, withdrawn, and a little stuck, which felt honest to me. The relationship between Cody and his grandpa is the emotional center, and it’s handled with a gentle patience I found moving. Grandpa doesn’t lecture so much as notice, wait, tell stories, and lets Cody arrive at understanding in his own time. That felt true to childhood, and also true to good parenting.
The writing has a homespun, reflective quality that fits the rural setting well. The lessons are stated clearly, but I can see why that directness would work for younger readers. The ideas are lovely, especially the way each kaleidoscope becomes a metaphor for change, memory, courage, family, community, and choosing what we put into the world. I also thought the artwork gave the book much of its charm. The illustrations have a soft sketchbook feel with bursts of watercolor-like color, and that splashy brightness mirrors the kaleidoscope theme beautifully. The images of the small towns, parks, farm scenes, and Cody with Molly add warmth and texture, making the book feel both personal and rooted in a real place.
I found Where the Kaleidoscopes Turn to be a tender, thoughtful book with a strong sense of place and a sincere belief in the value of looking at life differently. It’s earnest and full of affection for grandparents, small towns, old memories, and children who need a little help finding their footing again. I’d recommend it for elementary and early middle-grade readers, especially kids who enjoy family stories, gentle life lessons, dogs, road trips, or books that leave them feeling steadier and more hopeful by the end.
Pages: 98 | ISBN : 978-1958023648
Chanumas: One Boy, Two Holidays and a Very Big Wish
Readers are introduced to a unique and heartfelt story about a little boy celebrating Chanukah with his family. His evening is filled with familiar traditions: food, dancing, and the warm glow of the menorah. But when Christmas Eve falls on the same night, he begins to wonder whether something extra might be possible. He wants to honor Chanukah, yet he also feels curious about the magic of Christmas Eve. Hoping for a small surprise, he hangs a sock on the kitchen wall and wonders who might deliver a gift or whether one will arrive at all.
Chanumas by Irv Brand is a creative, thoughtful, and engaging story that many young readers will enjoy. I appreciated the way the little boy’s parents found a meaningful solution that allowed him to experience the excitement of Christmas Eve while remaining true to their family’s beliefs. The story handles this balance with warmth and care. Small gestures, such as hanging a sock, leaving out food for the gift-giver, and receiving kisses even without mistletoe, add charm and humor to the celebration.
The rhyming text gives the story a playful rhythm and makes it especially appealing for young readers. It also offers a fun opportunity for children to recognize and practice rhyming words. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and expressive, with plenty of details to explore on each page. They add depth to the story and help readers better understand the family’s celebration without needing extra explanation.
This is a wonderful book for children learning about Chanukah, as well as for those who celebrate Chanukah and are curious about Christmas Eve. By blending both holidays into the joyful idea of “Chanumas,” the story celebrates family, tradition, love, and the meaningful ways people come together.
Pages: 34 | ASIN : B0GX83FKVG
Daddy, Can I Be A Marine?
Daddy, Can I Be a Marine?, by Ben Olbon, offers a reflective and heartfelt look at a father’s time in the United States Marine Corps through the eyes of his children. The story follows a brother and sister as they learn about their father’s service, discovering who he was before parenthood and how those experiences shaped the man they know today. The narrative highlights how military service can remain a lasting and defining part of personal identity long after active duty ends.
The book’s greatest strength lies in its presentation of core values such as leadership, commitment, and responsibility. These themes feel authentic rather than instructional, making them accessible for young readers. Olbon’s personal connection to the story brings sincerity and quiet pride to the narrative. The children’s growing fascination with the Marines begins with simple curiosity about their father, which makes his service feel personal and inspiring rather than distant or abstract. This approach naturally invites meaningful conversations between parents and children about service, sacrifice, and family history.
The illustrations by Alana McCarthy enhance the story with warmth and emotional depth. Details like the Marine Corps uniform and earned medals visually reinforce the importance of the father’s service. Expressive characters and carefully composed scenes help children engage with both the emotions and the message of the book. The inclusion of Marine Corps facts at the end adds another layer of value, offering informative content for readers who may be curious about military life or future service.
Daddy, Can I Be a Marine? is a thoughtful and engaging book well suited for family collections and classroom use. It is especially meaningful for military families and career exploration lessons, providing a respectful and accessible way to honor service while strengthening intergenerational understanding.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0FN9QPDGV
The Warmest Memories
Saturdays With Gramps centers around a little boy who learns that love never truly dies after losing his grandfather. Where did the idea for this story come from?
Saturdays With Gramps was inspired by my own experiences with loss. I lost my dad when I was 27, and years later I navigated the loss of my mom—first ambiguously, as dementia slowly changed who she was, and then physically when she passed away. During that time, I was also helping my children grieve their Grammy and find ways to keep both her memory and their grandfather’s memory alive. Writing this story became a way to honor those relationships and the love we shared. My hope is that the book helps children and families feel less alone in their grief, and gently reminds them that love doesn’t disappear—it continues in memories, traditions, and the bonds we carry forward.
Is there anything from your own childhood included in Sam’s story?
Yes! My dad, Henry, co-founded a restaurant named Embers, and they served the most delicious pancakes. When I was growing up, we would go to Embers every weekend for brunch, and I couldn’t wait to devour a syrup-drizzled stack of pancakes! I have the warmest memories from those days. In the story, I named them “Grampscakes” because my dad, who went by Papa to his grandkids, always called himself PapaBurger, as his restaurant also served yummy burgers (namely, the Emberger Royal!). Grampscakes are a way to honor that silly nickname of his, and those awesome pancakes!
The artwork in Saturdays With Gramps is wonderful. Can you share with us a little about your collaboration with illustrator Ellie Beykzadeh?
Ellie is truly the most amazing illustrator. Her work is so stunning and always highlights every emotion beautifully. Her illustrations bring the book to life. I love working with Ellie because she is so talented, collaborative, and has the most creative ideas. She’s such a kind human, to boot!
What is one thing you hope young readers and their families take away from your book?
My greatest hope is that young readers and their families find comfort in knowing that love never truly dies. Even when the people we love are no longer with us, their love continues to live on — in memories, traditions, and the quiet ways they remain part of our lives.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Saturdays were Sam’s favorite—Grampscakes dripping with syrup, lively chess matches, quiet moments spent birdwatching. Just Sam and Gramps, soaking up their special day together.
But when Gramps passes away, Sam is heartbroken—and Saturdays feel empty.
With his mom’s gentle guidance, Sam begins to understand a powerful truth: even though Gramps is gone, the love they shared—and their cherished traditions—will always remain. Because like syrup on pancakes, love sticks around.
Saturdays with Gramps is a tender, heartfelt picture book that helps children process grief and loss with warmth, comfort, and hope. Through gentle storytelling and beautiful illustrations, it reminds readers that the bonds we build with those we love remain long after they’re gone.
✅ Ideal for ages 7+
✅ Introduces loss in an age-appropriate, relatable way
✅ Encourages open conversations about big feelings
✅ Validates kids’ emotions and experiences
✅ Offers healthy, hopeful coping strategies
✅ A supportive resource for parents, educators, and therapists navigating bereavement
Whether a child is grieving a grandparent, parent, pet, or any kind of loved one, Saturdays with Gramps reminds them they’re not alone—and that love lasts forever.
Saturdays With Gramps
Saturday With Gramps follows Sam, a boy who spends every Saturday wrapped in the cozy routines he shares with his grandfather. They eat Grampscakes, play chess, watch for cardinals, and just enjoy being together. Then Gramps grows tired, and Sam learns he has died. With his mom’s help, Sam starts to understand how love sticks around even when someone is gone, and he finds small ways to keep Gramps close.
This is a very emotional children’s book. The writing feels gentle, simple, and totally honest. I liked how nothing was rushed. Gramps grows tired slowly, and Sam notices it in those tiny everyday ways that feel so real. The moment his mom explains what happened is soft but clear, and I appreciated that. It does not sugarcoat the truth, and it also does not overwhelm. The whole thing felt like being spoken to kindly. I also loved the little details. The root beer, the petunias, the cardinal. They made the story feel warm and lived-in.
This whole picture of grief as something you move through by remembering what you shared felt calming. I found myself smiling at the thought of those Grampscakes and the way love turns into traditions you carry forward. It reminded me of how small rituals can feel huge when someone is gone. The message that love never dies felt simple in the best way. It stayed with me after I finished the last page.
I’d totally recommend Saturdays With Gramps for kids who are dealing with loss, and for the grown-ups trying to help them through it. The story is gentle, the pictures are bright and comforting, and the message feels steady and warm. It is a great read for families, counselors, teachers, or anyone who wants to help a child understand grief without making it scary.
Pages: 31 | ASIN : B0FFNC6BDF
Educating and Encouraging
Not Everyone Walks the Stage follows a young girl who is about to start kindergarten, and while she is excited, she is also nervous about fitting in because she is different. What was the inspiration for your story?
Sierra: The inspiration came from a joke that Nick made about myself working on my university’s commencement planning committee. He said something along the lines of “She helps people walk the stage but she won’t ‘walk’ the stage herself” and a friend of Nick’s thought that it would be a wonderful book idea. He and I both agreed and now here we are!
Nick: Sierra was the Lead Commencement Assistant (student worker) at our university, the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and she never let her disability or her being in a wheelchair stop her from anything We worked together to make this wonderful story about a girl that goes to school for the first time and is concerned because she hears at school that at the end of the year ‘not everyone walks the stage” and graduates. The readers do not know exactly why she is worried, and at the end of the book we discover that she is in a wheelchair and has been taking the phrase literally rather than as an idiom meaning to graduate. Sierra’s own drive as a person is reflected by the character of Sophia who makes sure she does well in school so that she can cross the stage at graduation like everyone else!
The art in this book is fantastic, representing diversity so that all children can find someone with whom to relate. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Alisa Tverdokhleb?
Sierra: It was amazing! I have never been good at art myself and it was so cool to learn more about the creative process and watch her bring the ideas and words to life while adding her own unique voice. She did a fantastic job and I had a blast getting to know her more as well. She’s an absolute sweetheart.
Nick: Alisa Tverdokhleb is the behind-the-scenes hero of this project. She is a master visual storyteller who listened to what the writers needed and added her own creativity. Her unforgettable vibrant and beautiful artwork gave an even more resounding voice to Sierra’s story.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
Sierra: I would say the most important part for me was educating people on life in a wheelchair while showing encouraging others to go out and live their life to the fullest. I think it’s easy for anyone of any age to get caught up in the ableist belief that your life is “over” after becoming wheelchair bound for any reason and that simply isn’t the case. However, it is still a commonly held belief that is hard to shake for multiple reasons and it’s why the Q and A portion of this book is the most important educational aspect to include.
Nick: Sierra and I agreed that this book could be more than just a wonderful book for kids, but an opportunity to educate people of all ages about what it is like to be in a wheelchair, or how one can support wheelchair bound people. We agreed that helping and educating others is what we wanted to do. On our website there’s even free lesson plans for how teachers and parents can use the book to teach concepts in school. We also wanted every to just smile and realize that no matter how different we are we are all the same.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
Sierra: I’m gonna leave this one to you to answer Nick, LOL.
Nick: I am hoping that this question means that people want more of Sophia’s story, or our style of book. We have talked about continuing Sophia’s adventures, but want to find the right story to tell. I think we also want the whole team back together for this if we can.
If you think we should do a sequel, please leave a comment here or on our social media pages and let us know. We love hearing from readers more than anything!
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website
Sophia is excited about kindergarten and just wants to fit in. She is worried that at graduation at the end of the year she won’t walk the stage like everyone else. Join her as she learns about — how things work at school, how to make friends, how sometimes we all struggle, how learning is fun, and how she is exactly like her friends!
Sophia’s has a mobility impairment that makes her think that she might not succeed in school. Her literal misunderstanding of “being able to walk the stage” at the end of the year worries her. We follow her journey through her first year in school, where we discover that her experiences are identical to all other students. Sophia’s wheelchair is hidden in the book until the very end to emphasize her common experiences with other students. This wonderful book is perfect for all students to learn important broad lessons about how we are all the same, yet all different at the same time.
The book includes an interview with author Sierra Andrews who herself is in a wheelchair due to a car accident at 18-years old. She gives information about being wheelchair-bound to parents, educators, and students. She answers questions people want to ask but are often afraid to do so. It also includes special sections called Can You Find, Other Ways to Use This Book, Fun Things to Do, and Fun Facts that give readers additional activities that they can do to learn and enjoy themselves. An interview with illustrator Alisa Tverdokhleb gives advice to those who want to be artists.
“A story so full of delightful surprises from the unexpected ending to the detailed attention given to the whole-child development. Not Everyone Walks the Stage is a book so inclusive and informative that no classroom, library, school, or home should be without a copy. Not Everyone Walks the Stage shares an essential story that highlights valuable lessons for both kids and adults on how to acknowledge and respect our differences. This is a graduation ceremony you really won’t want to miss. Zepo Publishing takes the good that already exists in the world and amplifies it. A common thread in its books is its message of inclusion and acceptance of our individual differences that connect us in unique ways to one another.” – Dr. Janet Canino Ph.D., LMFT
