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Giving Kids Confidence
Sophie and the Swans follows a girl living by the lake who stands up to a bully throwing stones at the swans she has befriended. What was the inspiration for your story?
A few years ago, I made friends with a pair of swans I named Romeo and Juliet, who visited me at the shoreline below my house every day and brought their new family over every spring. They would greet me by nodding their heads and snorting to say hello. I was fascinated by their beauty, strength, and intelligence and started researching swan life and behavior. I already knew that swan couples stay together for life, but I was also struck by their loyalty to one another and hoped they never suffered from the often-thoughtless actions of human beings. They were still wild birds but recognized us and even followed us around the lake when we went out in our canoe. It was an extraordinary friendship and we grew to love them. I started writing a factual book about swans for children but decided it would be more useful to write a fictional book featuring the swans that gently taught a lesson.
Sophie has a chance to show the bully what it feels like to be mistreated but instead shows him kindness and compassion when he needs help. What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
Setting an example, giving kids confidence to stand up for themselves when confronted, learning that two wrongs don’t make a right, and some bullying behavior can be diffused with kindness.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
Hearing my mother read poetry to us before bed was the origin of my love for poetry. My father made up stories all the time and would make up new ones when he was in the car with his 4 children—all fantastical and fun. I think an important moment was when he read me a poem by Robert Frost, “The Death of the Hired Man,” when I was about 10. I saw his eyes moisten and realized how moving writing can be. I’ve been writing since I can remember, and my first written poem according to my mother, was written when I was 5 or 6 and involved swans!
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2024 Purple Dragonfly Award tied First Place Charity/Making a Difference category
A portion of proceeds for the book will be donated to anti-bullying advocates
Sophie is a little girl who lives beside a lake and makes friends with a pair of swans who visit her every day. One day, when a bully starts to torment the swans, Sophie rushes to defend them not by attacking the bully, but by showing him kindness when he gets into trouble on the lake.
Sophie and the Swans
Sophie and the Swans, written by Holly Peppe and illustrated by Aeron Cargill, is a beautiful and meaningful children’s book that will leave a lasting impression on readers of all ages. This book follows a young and compassionate girl named Sophie who lives on Fernwood Lake and enjoys watching and feeding the swans there. Sophie has created a bond with the pair of swans she has named Romeo and Juliet. One day, she sees Romeo in distress and rushes to see what is wrong, only to find a strange boy on the shore throwing rocks at them. She stands up to the boy, telling him that swans do not like bullies. Later she meets a nice boy about her age and discovers the bully is his brother and her new neighbor.
This children’s book provides readers with facts about swans and teaches children how they can deal with bullies in an empathetic and positive way. Standing up to a bully is hard, but Holly Peppe has shown that it can, indeed, be done and done in a way that fosters understanding and compassion, teaching children that just because someone is rude or a bully does not mean they are not deserving of help and kindness.
Holly Peppe has written a story that shows people are capable of change when others model kindness and compassion despite negative behaviors and attitudes. Cargill’s vibrant illustrations allow younger children who cannot yet read to follow the story and grasp the message while bringing out the beauty of swans.
Sophie and the Swans is a valuable educational story for both children and adults. It shows the good in people and their ability to change. Peppe’s story empowers readers to stand up to bullies and defend those who cannot defend themselves, whether it be children or animals. This lovingly-penned children’s book would make the perfect addition to a school or home library.
Pages: 36 | ISBN : 1947187147
LITERARY TITAN 