Book
Summaries
All the books conclude with a page discussing how to help a reader
to become an overcomer related to the topic at hand.​
Eddie’s New Skills
...a guide to strengthening executive functioning skills...
Eddie is a student who desires to do well in school and function with less stress in his life but is often misunderstood by those around him, because he lacks the executive functioning skills needed to be more productive. This story takes you on a journey as each executive functioning skill is introduced into Eddie’s life to help him feel calmer and more successful.
The executive functioning skills are listed throughout the book as well as helpful tips to implement them into a reader's life to make the days easier and more peaceful. Many people are unfamiliar with the term “executive functioning skill” and are unaware of the necessity of possessing them. Strong executive functioning skills are crucial for all ages to bring greater achievement and peace in our lives. This story seeks to teach the importance of each skill and how the skills can benefit us all.
The Boat
...a story of friendship...
The Boat is a story written for all ages about what it means to be and have a genuine friend. Our personal boat is a metaphorical reference to ourselves and who we allow to ride along on our life’s journey.
The story also examines our role when we are in someone else’s boat and how we can and should share the gift of authentic and loving friendship with others. The Boat can be used to start conversations about the importance of real friends as well as to be given as a gift of gratitude and encouragement for those riding in our boat.
Suggestions for what makes a good friend are included at the end of the book.
The Voice in My Head
This story is about facing challenges of many kinds that occur throughout our life and how important it is to counterattack the negative voice that tends to pop in our head when we encounter struggles.
The chant throughout the story is repetitive stating that we should tell ourselves positive thoughts and be kind to ourselves especially when we meet obstacles so we can become overcomers no matter how old we are.
​​I’m going to listen to that voice…the voice in my head…
And tell it to make and think positive thoughts instead.
To use the gift of voice to speak loudly with my choice…
To be true to thyself and say kind words to myself.
The chant has musicality and could be a jingle or a rap.
Lizzy In a Tizzy
Lizzy is a young girl who struggles in school due to focus and attention deficiencies which negatively impacts her confidence and feelings toward school.
A new teacher comes into her life who encourages Lizzy’s talents and helps her understand that we all have differences and are unique.
The book concludes with Lizzy grasping the value of herself and others while she explains we all have a role to play in encouraging and accepting our differences.
Suggestions for how to help a child with focus concerns are listed in the back of the book.
In The Mirror
Many of us look into a “mirror” daily and see a false image reflected of who we are and who we want to be. The pressure that we place on ourselves and on others to meet a standard of perfection can be too much for us all based on what we “see” in our personal mirror.
This story is a narrative about learning to be comfortable in our own skin and to accept the beauty we carry as individuals while we seek to share the gifts and talents we all possess.
Each of us deserves to have a clear and positive image of ourselves and others as we strive to be the best version of who we are created to be.
This story is written to begin a conversation with readers about the gift of our uniqueness and the importance we all have.
The message is intended to convey that we are valued as we are and to stay focused on reaching our own goals and dreams.
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When Grandpa Forgot My Name
This story is about children facing the grief of losing a grandparent through the unfortunate disease of dementia. It is written in a gentle, sensitive, and lyrical fashion to acknowledge the heartache and suffering of watching a person we care about endure a long goodbye, a short illness, or any other loss.
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The message is shared through the eyes of children and is meant to be honest in acknowledging sorrow, but also one of encouragement as we are all forced to face the absence and passing of those we care about throughout life. We can one day embrace the comfort of cherishing the memories of the loving relationship we shared.
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This story applies to anyone suffering through the pain of separation and is a reminder no one can ever steal the memories we cherish of those for whom we love and care. The piece was written out of a desire to help the reader explore a difficult and painful subject when one often does not have the words to share the feelings that accompany loss.​