Blog Archives
Beauty, Hope, and Kindness
Beanie’s Web follows a gentle country spider who must show a wary city fly that kindness, generosity, and friendship can be stronger than fear and first impressions. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Life on our planet is becoming more and more complex. The universal theme of peace, kindness, and joy expressed in Beanie’s Web offers an opportunity to step back from the complex and embrace the simple qualities that make us human.
Why was it important for Beanie to earn Frieda’s trust through his actions rather than simply persuade her with words?
Actions speak louder than words. Frieda’s intrinsic fear of spiders could not have been quelled by words alone. Beanie’s actions, such as freeing insects from his web and tending a bountiful garden of fruits and vegetables, gave tangibility to his words, “I am a vegetarian.”
How did the themes of peace, kindness, and joy develop as you were writing the story?
I believe that beauty, hope, and kindness can always be found if we choose to look for them in the world around us. As a Marine in Vietnam, I discovered that even in life’s darkest moments, light can still be found when we lift our eyes. Peace, kindness, joy, and other rays of light are the theme and matrix of Beanie’s Web.
What do you hope children and parents will talk about together after reading Beanie’s Web?
Beanie’s Web was written for a young audience whose hearts still hold a natural sense of love, joy, unity, and simplicity. By creating words and illustrations that reflect these lofty qualities, it is hoped that children and parents will discuss, develop, and nurture these attributes.
Author Links: GoodReads
Benjamin & Honka’s Backyard Adventure: Second Edition
Benjamin & Honka’s Backyard Adventure is a gentle picture book about a six-year-old boy who discovers a woodland duck near the pond in his backyard and names him Honka because of his funny, husky call. What begins as a simple encounter turns into a sweet friendship, with Benjamin learning how to care for Honka properly, including the important lesson that bread isn’t good for ducks and healthier treats are a kinder choice. The story settles into a warm rhythm of pond play, small discoveries, and the quiet promise that ordinary days can hold real wonder.
I liked the tenderness of this book most. It has the feel of a memory a parent might tell at bedtime, soft around the edges and full of backyard magic. The writing is simple and direct, which suits the age group, and I appreciated that the story doesn’t force a big, dramatic lesson. Instead, it lets care and curiosity do the work. Benjamin’s sadness when Honka disappears for a day felt especially true to childhood, that quick little ache children feel when something they love suddenly isn’t where it should be.
The artwork gives the picture book much of its charm. The pond scenes are especially calming, with muted greens, golden light, soft water, and little details like butterflies, reeds, and garden plants that make the backyard feel alive. I also liked how Honka is drawn with personality rather than exaggerated cuteness. He feels like a real animal, a child might observe closely and come to love. There are a few places where the text could be smoother, and some phrasing feels a bit uneven, but the heart of the book comes through clearly. Its best idea is a lovely one: children can learn compassion not through lectures, but through paying attention.
I found Benjamin & Honka’s Backyard Adventure to be an affectionate children’s book with a sincere love for animals and nature. It has a comforting sweetness that stayed with me after I finished it. I’d recommend it for young children who enjoy animal stories, backyard exploration, and gentle books about kindness, especially for parents looking for a calm read-aloud with a little real-world care lesson tucked inside.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0GRTCML8T
Tiger and My Eye Patch
A young girl begins her summer burdened by an eyepatch meant to correct her lazy eye, and the weight of it grows heavier each time her classmates sneer. Branded “Pee Wee the Pirate,” she endures a name flung at her by children blind to the harm it causes. Relief arrives only when she escapes to Johnson City, where her grandparents wait with open arms, and with Tiger, their towering, gentle Great Dane. Tiger adores her. He offers no judgment, no mockery. Just warmth. Yet Tiger’s size and enthusiasm often land him in trouble, and before long, the girl’s courage and ingenuity are put to the test as she tries to save the companion who has quietly saved her.
Tiger and My Eye Patch, written by Colleen Lent, is a children’s story best suited for readers around ages 3 to 8. Its spirit echoes classic series like The Berenstain Bears, delivering an abundance of life lessons without losing its sense of play.
Lent draws from her own childhood, and that honesty radiates through the narrative. The sharper emotions, the confusion, and the vulnerability surface in the protagonist’s perspective and give the story a lived-in quality. Her world feels colored by past hurts, yet not dominated by them.
Joy still rises. It unfolds through tender moments with her grandparents and through the undeniable bond she forms with Tiger. The giant dog, good-natured yet misunderstood, mirrors her own struggle. His size invites assumptions, and he, too, carries the burden of being judged before being known. Their connection emerges naturally from shared experience, and it becomes the emotional heart of the tale.
Tiger and My Eye Patch maintains a light tone, but beneath it runs a clear thread of catharsis. Lent writes toward healing her own and that of any child who has ever been singled out for being different. The lesson she imparts, treat others with kindness, especially when they stand apart, is delivered with grace rather than force. Paired with lively, colorful illustrations, the story becomes both a comforting read and a meaningful one, offering young audiences a narrative they can enjoy again and again while absorbing its gentle wisdom.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0FV9W4242
A Kind Stranger
Jewel’s Bowl of Kindness follows a young girl eating dinner in a restaurant who notices a hungry little girl outside, so she saves her bowl of rice to give to the girl. What was the inspiration for your story?
My inspiration was my human services role of seeing cases in my hometown of homeless people in tents, especially during the winter months, and statistically of homeless people suffering from hunger needing community support and a kind stranger to help them survive.
What were some ideas that were important for you to personify in your characters?
Empathy and kindness to others–I wanted my characters to demonstrate to others.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
The scene when Jewel saves her bowl of rice and surprises her parents by walking to the strangers offering her bowl of rice.
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Jewel and the direction of the next book?
I am still in the formation stages of a new book for this book series, Jewel’s Values Series.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
family fun together at home and visiting
new adventurous places. One day,
Jewel notices hurting souls and shows
kindness by offering a gift of hope.
Bedtime Worries-The What-If Kid
Bedtime Worries is a sweet and rhyming children’s book about Kale, a curious boy whose overactive imagination keeps him up at night. Through a series of heartfelt and often funny exchanges with his patient mom, Kale voices all the “what-ifs” racing through his mind, from fears of monsters under his bed to worries about strange noises in the dark. By the end of the book, Kale not only manages to fall asleep but wakes up feeling confident and self-reliant.
I loved how relatable Kale’s worries were, especially for kids. His questions like, “What if monsters are waiting under my bed?” or “What if a bird taps on my window, wanting to spy?” reminded me of my own childhood fears. The author captures these anxieties vivdly. His mom’s soothing responses, like describing dreams of “lollipops, sugar clouds, and loads of ice cream,” were so tender. It’s clear that she’s trying to build trust while easing Kale’s mind.
I absolutely loved the colorful and expressive artwork that brought every page of Bedtime Worries to life. The illustrations were vibrant and full of personality, capturing Kale’s emotions perfectly. Each page felt warm and inviting, with little details like the soft glow of the nightlight making the story visually appealing.
The writing flows like a lullaby, and the rhymes make it a joy to read aloud. I also appreciated the subtle humor in moments like Kale’s mom yawning and snapping her fingers to signal bedtime rules. Those little touches made her feel real. The ending tied everything together nicely. I loved seeing Kale’s transformation in the morning, waking up confident and eager to take on the day. The last reminder that “worries are normal” is a reassuring message, not just for kids but for adults too.
This picture book is a gem for parents of young kids. It’s perfect for bedtime, especially if you’ve got a little one who’s full of questions and “what-ifs.” Bedtime Worries is a comforting hug of a book, reminding us all that fears can be soothed with love, patience, and a little imagination.
Pages: 30 | ASIN : B0DG45JFM5
Harry the Hedgehog and the Missing Pumpkin
Harry the Hedgehog and the Missing Pumpkin, by Rayner Tapia, is a charming little tale that follows Harry the Hedgehog on a Halloween morning as he wakes up, ready to enjoy his treasured pumpkin, only to find it is missing. Determined to solve the mystery of the vanished pumpkin, Harry dons his detective “hat” and ventures out, meeting various woodland friends who help him along the way. Eventually, he discovers a family of mice who have found the pumpkin and offers to share it with them, learning a valuable lesson about the joy of sharing.
I found this children’s book utterly delightful. The writing is simple and engaging, perfect for its young audience and beginning readers. The scene where Harry interacts with Donna the Duck, who suggests the pumpkin might have been carried away by the wind, made me chuckle. The dialogue felt warm and playful, and I appreciated each animal’s unique personality, like Ollie the Owl’s wise demeanor and Sally the Squirrel’s cheeky energy.
Harry’s decision to share his pumpkin with the mice showed incredible kindness and generosity, which is a wonderful message for young readers. The idea of sharing as a source of happiness was woven beautifully into the narrative without feeling preachy. The feast scene, with pumpkin stew, pie, and roasted seeds, left me craving something pumpkin-flavored myself.
The vibrant watercolor illustrations bring the pages to life and are the perfect complement to Tapia’s lively tale. From Harry’s bright yellow pumpkin to the cozy cave of the mice, each illustration added charm and excitement. The scene I loved most was when Harry put on his detective hat, which was just a leaf–an adorable scene that is sure to delight young readers.
I wholeheartedly recommend Harry the Hedgehog and the Missing Pumpkin, by Rayner Tapia, to parents, teachers, and anyone looking for a heartwarming story to share with young children. It’s perfect for bedtime or a classroom read-aloud. The themes of kindness and community are timeless, and Harry the Hedgehog is sure to be a beloved character for many.
Pages: 28 | ASIN : B0DN1C1GTL
Kindness and Empathy
The What-If Kid follows a young boy whose wild imagination often spirals into anxiety and worry who is getting ready for his first day of school. What was the inspiration for your story?
My inspiration for this story was and still is our son Kale. His own worries and anxiety were very apparent on his first day of school, and I knew I just had to write this book. Other parents working through the same struggles with their own kids can absolutely relate to Kale and all the emotions brought about on his first day of school.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I wanted to share our son’s story about anxiety and how real it can be and feel especially to little ones when a change comes about in their lives. I really wanted to emphasize that kindness and empathy do still exist in this world and how even the smallest gesture can produce the biggest reward.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
The scene I had the most fun writing was the school bus scene. I’m pretty sure that Kale did express his worry about the bus falling apart, which made it all the more real. First bus rides can be worrisome and I was hoping to also lighten the mood of the book in this scene.
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?
This is the first book in this series. I also have a second book out called Bedtime Worries- The What-If Kid. Just continuing on with all of Kale’s big feelings at bedtime. I am currently working on my third book in this series. It should be out on shelves by early next year called Carnival Chaos- The What-If Kid. I think that with that title you can just imagine all of the “What-ifs” that come into play throughout the pages of that book.
Author Links: Goodreads | Facebook | Website | Instagram | Amazon
Sharing Good Things
Sow Seeds of Wisdom is a poetry and prose collection that serves as a call to action for readers, urging them to share their innate knowledge for the collective growth of society. What inspired this collection of poems and writings?
When I started writing my second book, Scatter Seeds of Kindness, I didn’t have a name for the book but as I was reading through the poems, I started to notice the theme of kindness emerging, so that book named itself. The same thing happened with my third book, Gather Seeds of Hope when I noticed the theme of hope that kept appearing in many of the poems. So when I started to write this book, Sow Seeds of Wisdom, I wanted to keep with the theme of sharing good things in life, like kindness and hope. So I asked myself what other good things could be shared, and I thought about knowledge and wisdom. What better gift is there than to be able to share your life experiences and what you have learned, which could possibly help someone out in a similar situation, or just give someone some hope and inspiration? Not every poem or prose has to do with finding wisdom in every situation, but many do. I think there is a lesson to be learned or shared in most of the writings in this book. Even the fun “The Morning After” has a lesson of drinking too much the night before. So the theme of this book was more intentional and deliberate than the last two in the same series.
What was one of the hardest parts of this collection for you to write?
Just finding the wisdom, or the lesson, in each poem. Sometimes it was obvious and other times I had to look a bit deeper within myself or into the world around me to find the lesson or the wisdom. Other times I drew on my own past experiences, so some got a bit personal which is a little outside my comfort zone. The other challenging part was just putting out a book about spreading wisdom when I can sometimes be a bit of a silly person. I was not sure friends and family who know me best would take me seriously. I can be self-deprecating sometimes. I am clumsy (I trip over my own two feet), or I open my mouth and something really silly comes out. But every now and then I have some wisdom to impart, and I hope that shines through in this book.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from Sow Seeds of Wisdom?
That everyone, no matter how young or old, has something to share in the way of knowledge. Sometimes the older people brush aside the younger generation because they think they are flighty and unfocused, but now that I am diving into more technology via YouTube and social media, I rely on their vast knowledge and how they can figure stuff out so quickly. And the younger generation sometimes views the older folks as stuck in their ways and rigid, but there is so much that generation can teach; history, money tips, working on older cars, etc. I wrote about this in the last poem in the book, Wisdom…Pass It On, about how we can all learn from each other if we would put our preconceived notions or limiting beliefs aside.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I am taking a little break this summer after putting out four books in four years. But I just recently started working on some new stuff so hopefully within a year or so. I am really just taking my time to see what evolves and what theme the next book will bring forth.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Told in her usual lighthearted, slightly self-deprecating manner, the author shares wisdom through both prose and poetry on such topics as common sense, betrayal, things we keep hidden—or choose not to reveal, things we hold onto long after we should have let them go, and spirituality, among many other topics. Sometimes deep and profound; sometimes lighthearted and humorous; the poems in Sow Seeds of Wisdom always provide fresh insights for the reader to learn from and ponder.
