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Teamwork
Dragon Island: Football Season centers around a group of dragons and their magical skills as they compete in a unique and action-packed football season. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Actually, my younger cousins were the inspiration. I asked them if there was a specific book they wanted me to write, and they asked for dragons. I wanted to make it very personalized to them, too. I decided to go with football because its their favorite sport. They actually chose the colors, names, and formatting for the dragons, too. They were very involved, and it was so fun to do with them. They were so excited for this book, and they have said it’s their favorite, making me a very proud aunt.
Did the idea of the teams and tournament come first, or did individual dragon characters come first?
Definitely, the teams and tournament came first. The amazing Brainstorm Productions came up with the formatting for the dragons when they were working on the illustrations. Then my little cousins chose the dragons for their own characters and for each of the other characters. My little cousins were very involved in this book with their own creative ideas; it was a family event to work on. I was very lucky to have their input and to have Brainstorm Productions bring it to life.
The dragons changing colors to match their team uniforms is such a fun visual idea. How did that concept emerge?
I really did not want to do the usual and pick one for each team. To me, that’s not fun=) I like being different and coming up with creative ideas. I thought about what could make it different and fun, but not too crazy for a reader or challenging for an illustrator. That’s what made me think, “What about an ombre look, where the dragons start as one color and change into a different one when they get together for their teams?” That’s different and easy for the reader to picture. I was hoping it would be easy for whoever illustrated it, and Brainstorm Productions exceeded my expectations with it.
If children connect most strongly with one idea in the book, what do you hope that is?
Definitely the idea of teamwork. It’s there with the dragons deciding to learn sign language for their teammate who is deaf. It’s there in the playful banter between the teams, but in the end, they wing high five and go for ice cream. There’s so much emphasis on winning, and I absolutely love how my little cousins handle losing; they are so gracious about it. I am so proud of the example they set for their teammates. I wanted to showcase that in the book and have the reader see it is ok to lose and still be laughing and joking and going for dragon ice cream. I also wanted to show that if a teammate has something different, then let’s all learn how to interact. To show how beautiful embracing that difference can be. I feel like the idea of teamwork in more than one way is a lesson that can resonate with anyone. And an important lesson to teach our children. My little cousins are growing into amazing young men who are a beautiful example of how our children can be raised.
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The highlight of the story is a thrilling football match between Team Firestorm and Team Thunder. As the game unfolds, teamwork, clever plays, and strategy keep readers on the edge of their seats as they discover who will emerge victorious. At its core, the story is a celebration of competition, teamwork, and the unbreakable bond of friendship.
Dragon Island: Football Season
Dragon Island: Football Season by Lisa Jacovsky is a creative and action-filled children’s picture book that combines two exciting worlds: dragons and football. The story takes place on Dragon Island, where six football teams, each with six dragon players, compete in a unique and energetic season. One especially fun detail is that the dragons can change their colors to match their team uniforms, adding imagination and visual excitement to the story.
One of the dragons I liked, both visually and in the story, was Blayze, a creative dragon. Ember, who is a deaf dragon, has the ability to create clever plays. Her character adds meaningful representation to the book while showing young readers that everyone has valuable strengths to contribute.
The highlight of the story is the thrilling football game between Team Firestorm and Team Thunder. The match is full of teamwork, clever problem-solving, and exciting twists that keep readers interested until the end. The dragons all bring their own talents to the game, which gives the story plenty of intrigue and helps show how cooperation can lead to success.
Dragon Island: Football Season is a fun and original picture book for young children. It promotes healthy competition, teamwork, diversity, inclusion, friendship, and problem-solving in a way that feels entertaining and engaging. With football-playing dragons, strong friendships, and an exciting game at its center, this children’s book makes a great bedtime story and the perfect read for families.
Pages: 24 | ASIN : B0GS5HKP82
Happy Thoughts: Going to the Beach
This sweet little children’s book follows Emma, a young girl with autism, as she heads to the beach with her friends Harper and Jerry. The day is full of excitement, sandcastles, and learning moments. Emma communicates using special waterproof cards her mom made, and through her friends’ kindness and understanding, the story shows how love and patience make adventures fun and safe for everyone.
I really liked how real the story felt. It didn’t sugarcoat things but still stayed gentle and positive. The way Emma’s excitement sometimes turns into overwhelm was so true to life, and the way her friends helped her made me smile. The writing is simple, but it fits perfectly for kids. I felt a lot of warmth from it, like a big sunny hug.
What really stuck with me was the message about friendship. Harper and Jerry never judged Emma, and that’s such an important thing for kids to see. The story didn’t feel preachy, just kind. The vibrant, cartoon-style illustrations depict heartwarming scenes of diverse characters. The illustrations are colorful and happy, matching that summer beach vibe. The writing has this rhythm that makes it feel like a conversation with a child, curious, honest, and full of energy.
I’d definitely recommend Happy Thoughts Going to the Beach by Lisa Jacovsky for kids around preschool or early elementary age. It’s perfect for storytime, especially for families or classrooms that want to talk about autism and inclusion in a positive way. It’s the kind of picture book that teaches empathy without even trying too hard. A good one to curl up with before a trip to the beach or anytime you just need a smile.
Pages: 29 | ASIN : B0FHL3Q61L
Open to Diversity
The Mystery of the Vanishing Fish follows a three-legged cat detective as he and his brothers embark on a hilarious investigation to uncover the truth behind their humans’ disappearing pet fish. What inspired you to write from a cat’s perspective?
I think it was really about showcasing the cute personality of the narrator, even though they were special with three legs. When I write, I find that it comes out with a first-person narrator. However, I think that is the best thing for my type of stories. Getting to see from the individual’s perspective or the cats, I think helps readers to understand them better.
What do you hope young readers take away from Bender’s adventure?
I want readers to see that even though he has three legs, he can still do anything and everything other cats can. I want the readers to relate to Bender and think he’s cute and silly in wanting to find where his fish friends went. Understanding and relating to him on a level as a child would can make the child more open to diversity and possibly adopting a cat too.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to explore the use of Bender’s difference in that he had three legs. I want this series to focus on each brother’s difference and show it in a positive light. The use of a detective mystery was to gain attention from the readers. Then they could read the story and see that even though he has three legs, it does not stop him from running, jumping, and exploring to find where his friends went to.
Do you have plans for more mysteries featuring Bender, Beau, and Bones in the future?
Yes I do =) There will be at least one more book, possibly two more in the series. The next one will be narrated by Beau, whom we were introduced to in Purrrfect As I Am but never got to be the head of solving a mystery. We will see if that is the final book in the series or maybe the brothers have found more mysteries to solve.
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In this tale, Bender and his brothers engage in one of their favorite activities – solving mysteries. The family owns a fish tank, which often catches Bender’s interest as he tries to interact with the fish. On this particular day, Bender notices that all of the fish are missing from the tank. Puzzled but excited, the feline brothers jump into action. Using his keen sense of smell and touch, Bender leads the investigation. He’s determined to find out what happened to their missing fish friends.
Where did the fish go? Will Bender and his brothers be able to find them? Come find out in this sweet mystery.
Silly Antics
Mischievous Cat Brothers follows two cat brothers’ daily activities and antics and the chaos they sometimes cause their “cat mom.” What inspired this children’s book?
That would be my own two silly kitties. I have a now 9-year-old and 7-year-old cat. The 7-year-old is narrating and it is his silly antics that inspired this series. Everything you read in the book are real things that happened in my place with my boys. I never knew how silly and funny cats could be and I thought it would be great to show the world this point of view for cats.
The art in this book brings the story to life, and the fact that each page is illustrated by a different artist on the autism spectrum makes it extra special. What was the collaboration process like with Brainstorm Productions?
The collaboration process is honestly one of the easiest and best for me. Brainstorm Productions individuals are brilliant. They are so talented and they send me a timeline but always deliver early. They send me different versions of each sketch I can choose from. I think my favorite though is when I am stuck on what to do for the header or back cover or an illustration and I give them total freedom to come up with an idea. They get my vision and bring my work to life the best. They are so nice, open and flexible. They make it the most enjoyable and best process for me.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
Oh gosh, probably the foot under the bed one lol. That never ceases to surprise me when he does that. Even now, every winter, I forget and out shoots his paw to grab my foot lol I laugh the most probably when that happens. That was very fun to write and then figure out how to describe it for Brainstorm Productions to bring it to life. Luckily, I had pictures for them to go off of.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I recently wrote a book called Dragon Island – Football Season. It was a book that my own little cousins asked me to write which was fun. They had a hand in it too by giving me their favorite colors and the names of the dragons. Also, an author friend asked me to write about a character who was deaf. This will have a dragon that is and that was fun to research and plan out. This was probably one of the biggest planned-out books before I started to write it. I’m very proud of it and very excited for it. This one will be out In 2025 and I cannot wait for it.
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In the next chapter of the “Cat Brothers” series, Snowball takes the spotlight, sharing tales of playful antics and pranks he shares with his sibling, Midnight. Whether he’s mistaking his owner’s foot for a mouse or watching Midnight comically attempt to fit into a box, their home is always filled with laughter and mischief. Dive into the delightful escapades of Midnight and Snowball in this enchanting sequel!
The Beauty in Being Special
Bones and Friends: The Case of the Missing Mice follows three cat brothers, all with different special needs, who must work together to find their missing mice toys. What was the inspiration for your story?
The inspiration is from a few beautiful special needs fosters that I follow. When I adopted my boys I found a wonderful cat group on Facebook. From there, I saw posts from special needs fosters. I decided to follow their pages, and it was the best thing. These little ones are hilarious and act just like any other cat. Getting to see the work, heart, and soul the humans of the foster put in is so heartwarming. It really made me want to show the world the beauty in being special as a cat too.
All three cat brothers are unique with their own talents and special needs. What were some ideas that were important for you to personify in your characters?
I really wanted to ensure that all three came off cute and not funky-looking. When a cat has hydrocephalus they have big heads and smaller bodies, and sometimes their pupils are different. It was very important to me that the character came off the way I saw him, which was adorable. I think the illustrator captured my vision for all three cats and showed how adorable they can be on the outside too.
What was one scene in the novel that you felt captured the morals and message you were trying to deliver to readers?
I think that scene would be when they are all in the kitchen. In that scene, you see all three them of engaging in behaviors that are very typical of kittens. However, having a special need you may not expect them to be able to do. Like a blind cat being able to go to the top of a refrigerator or a cat with three legs jumping on a kitchen counter. The boys never let their specialness stop them. That was the theme of this book to showcase that. I think that scene is one of the best for showing that.
I find a problem in well-written stories, in that I always want there to be another book to keep the story going. Is there a second book planned?
Yes! Lol right now Brainstorm Productions is working on book 2, the case of the vanishing fish. That is my favorite in the series and should be out later this year. They are doing an incredible job and I am so excited for this next part to come out. It is from the point of view of Beau who is blind. We will see if the readers can figure out where their fish friends went to before the boys do =)
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Despite being blind, our special needs cat, Beau, has an excellent sense of smell and hearing. When the mice dolls in his house mysteriously disappear, it’s up to our hero and his brothers, Bender, and Bones, to locate them by sniffing out their unique scent and listening to the subtle sounds they make.
Mischievous Cat Brothers
Mischievous Cat Brothers by Lisa Jacovsky is an utterly delightful book that captures the playful antics of two adorable fur babies, Snowball and Midnight. These two cat brothers are always up to something—whether it’s chasing their “cat mom” around the house, ambushing unsuspecting feet from under the bed, or squeezing into the perfect box. Every page brims with the joy of their endless mischief, making it a fun and lighthearted read for any cat lover.
What makes this book stand out is that it’s told from Snowball’s perspective, giving readers an inside look at the curious and playful world of these two lovable felines. It’s like a storybook version of the viral cat videos that everyone adores, with Snowball and Midnight finding joy in everything they do. But the story isn’t the only thing to love—there’s a unique and innovative aspect to the illustrations as well. Each one is crafted by different artists from Brainstorm Productions and the Center for Learning Unlimited, all of whom are on the autism spectrum. This collaboration adds a special layer of meaning to the book, with each artist contributing their distinctive style and perspective to bring the story to life. The art is truly a highlight. While the cats remain consistently charming across various illustrations, the humans in the story are depicted with a beautiful diversity that adds to the inclusive feel of the book. This blend of artistic styles makes every page turn into an exciting and fresh experience, as you never know what unique visual interpretation awaits you next. I was especially intrigued by the way the collaboration seamlessly merged different artistic voices, creating a cohesive yet vibrant aesthetic. I’ve never seen this kind of artistic collaboration in a children’s book before, and I found it to be both innovative and heartwarming. The story is filled with fun, the illustrations are inclusive and diverse, and the charm of Snowball and Midnight leaps off every page. After reading it, I was inspired to go snuggle with my own cats! I hope this kind of collaboration becomes a trend in children’s literature, showcasing the diverse talents of artists across the neurological spectrum.
Mischievous Cat Brothers is a purr-fect choice for readers of all ages, especially cat lovers. It’s an endearing tale of a cat mom and her two adventurous kitties, certain to bring a smile to anyone who opens its pages.
Pages: 28 | ASIN : B0DF4XY68M
Bones and Friends: The Case Of The Missing Mice
Bones and Friends: The Case of the Missing Mice by Lisa Jacovsky is a heartwarming children’s mystery that delights readers with its adorable trio of cats. Beau, Bender, and Bones—each with their own special needs—set out to solve the mystery of their missing mouse toys. Together, they show that no challenge is too big when you have teamwork, resilience, and a bit of creativity on your side.
Beau, who was born without eyes, relies on his sharp senses of smell and hearing. Bender, despite having only three legs, is an exceptional climber. Tiny Bones, living with hydrocephalus, uses his small size to explore hard-to-reach places. Each cat brings something unique to the adventure, and watching them turn their differences into strengths is both inspiring and endearing. Their mission to find the missing toys is not only a fun mystery but also a touching reminder that everyone has something valuable to contribute. The illustrations add another layer of charm to the story. They are colorful and engaging, drawing readers into the whimsical world of these courageous felines. The conclusion of the tale leaves readers with a sense of satisfaction, yet eager to follow the trio on more adventures. One of the most touching aspects of Bones and Friends is how it showcases animals with special needs in the spotlight. The way the characters’ differences are celebrated and turned into strengths resonates deeply, especially for readers who may have or know animals with similar challenges. As someone with a pet chicken who has no feet but still gets around faster than I do, this story truly struck a chord.
Bones and Friends is an adorable and uplifting read that’s perfect for storytime with young children. It’s a great pick for any cat lover or for group readings, where its themes of friendship and teamwork will surely shine. Whether at bedtime or during a quiet afternoon, this heartwarming tale of three cat brothers working together is a purr-fect choice for readers of all ages.
Pages: 27 | ASIN : B0CYLVX53K
