Children's Stories
Throughout my childhood, teens and young adult years, I journaled and experimented with story writing. My writing confidence was shaky after enduring critiques from my high school English teacher. Closet writing was my reclusive pleasure.
In 1989 when I gave birth to our first son, Matthew, I was inspired to write my first story and illustrate it with my very simplistic sketches. Two and a half years later after giving birth to Andrew, emotions bubbled. I was inspired to write a poem, The Iron Whisperer. Both these pieces ignited deep emotions.
Seven years later, while spending the summer holidays at my parent’s cottage in the Laurentians of Quebec, I was deeply touched by watching the relationships between my children and my parents blossom. During this time, I wrote In Search of Something Green and Sassy Frass. After returning to teaching at Hillsdale Elementary School, I shared In Search of Something Green with a parent volunteer who became a friend. Katie enjoyed the story so much that she surprised me with a set of watercolour illustrations. What a beautiful gift!
I continued to write stories with my students in class and then take the inspiration further privately writing after hours. Then in 2007, after writing the business parable, The Executive Gardener and the Fairy, I birthed a series of 11 alliterative poetic social skill stories, each addressing a desirable social skill trait and linked to various curriculum themes. After obtaining a $1000 grant with the help of a dear friend, Doug Lenz, and his team of fellow Mohawk College students, we produced 11 videos showcasing the stories engaging the students at Highview school. These were then used for an action research paper sponsored by the Elementary Teacher’s Federation of Ontario (ETFO). This major project unleashed a flurry of poetic writing and more children’s stories.
To date, I have 40 stories in my writing stable. As of The Little Dot I have self-published 11 stories. My goal is to have 20 self-published by August 2023.
I’m on a mission! A writing mission!
Collection
In Search of Something Green
A picture book dedicated to all the grandparents who lovingly coach their grandchildren while fostering dreams and a sense of awestruck wonder. It addresses over coming childhood anxieties with optimism, strength building strategies and courage (in this case, swimming in a big dark lake), moreover, it celebrates the power of the grandparent and grandchild relationship. Summer time is finally here, and Matthew is excited to spend a week at his grandparent’s cottage. But even though he has taken swimming lessons at his local pool, Matthew is still petrified of jumping off the dock into the deep, dark lake. Everyday Grandpoobee offers him swimming strategies while Nanabana takes him on nightly walks into the forest in search of a rare green charm that will bring him luck. Does Matthew find the courage he needs? Does Grandpoobee’s coaching help? Or does he find a lucky charm? Or maybe Matthew just made a leap of faith and courage!
Timely Umit Upturns Tim
In 1950’s Turkey, along the banks of the Dalyan River, lives a timid, tender, tolerant, thankful, thoughtful yet socially awkward turtle. Poor Tim is misunderstood by the other animals, so he is a lonely, grumpy fellow. One day a monsoon causes the river to flood, sweeping Tim upstream where he is deposited on a furry striped rug— it’s Umit, a tiger and potential predator who offers to help him. Should Tim trust Umit? Will Umit be a tiger of his word and deliver Tim home, or will Tim have the same fate as the classic gingerbread man? Can Tim’s courage carry him to a new outlook? This charming children’s book uses rhyme and the alliterative sounds of “T” words to help build vocabulary while also raising awareness of the plight of the Caspian tiger and loggerhead turtle.
Happy Cat and Merry Cat
This rhyming children’s book tells the story of two best friends—both spunky nine-year-old girls named Catherine. Nicknamed Happy Cat and Merry Cat, the girls love to dress up, drink tea, and eat sandwiches and sweets. Always looking for adventure and fun, they dream of a chance to have formal tea in their town’s tea shop and devise a plan to sing and dance on the street and collect change in a teapot until they have enough. But soon after they are seated inside the shop, their mothers find them and scold them for running off, teaching the girls a valuable lesson about always telling their parents where they are.
Watchful Wishful Whirling Wandas Whale Pleas
It was December 2017 and our family was in Hawaii for just before Christmas. We met our friends Rick and Karen at an Italian restaurant. Karen and I were chatting about writing and whales. One thing led to another and we were brainstorming whale story concepts. Initially the idea was to write a story about a little girls who would see whales , tell everyone that she saw one but every time people looked there wasn’t one, so she would appear to be lying until finally she would be able to share the real experience with someone. Well I began writing with this intent and the story evolved another way in which everyone else sees the whales expect Wanda. I really wanted the grandparents to save the day, as so often grandparents have a way to make wishes come true…ordinary super heroes.
Abbey’s Dental Jewel
What does the Tooth Fairy do with all the teeth she collects? The mystery has been solved by Mary Catherine Rolston in the delightfully engaging Abbey’s Dental Jewel. In ABC format, combined with alliterative verse, we follow Abbey through the experience of childhood which is universal – a wiggly, jiggly tooth and the problem of how to remove it! Through the author’s colourfully vivid illustrations, we can join Abbey and her friends as they try to hurry the process along, dreaming of cash left under a pillow, and then learn of the magical miracles wrought by the Tooth Fairy and her nightly haul.
Mindful Max’s Finger Focus Farming Frames
A story that features a Canadian prairie family comprised of Max, Ma, and Pa. Max fills the day with meandering and purposeful activity on the family farm. Max’s day begins with mindful cloud gazing while lying in a wheat field. Throughout the day, Max takes the time to mindfully focus on finger framing inspiring nature scenes, objects of interest, and points of pride. This peaceful beginning shifts as Max moves from one activity to another, some of which are gender-specific while others are generic. Since pronouns are not used, the reader is never sure if Max is a male or female. Late afternoon, a hailstorm, a classic prairie summer threat, descends, threatening the family’s ready-to-harvest wheat crop. This time the family farm is spared tragic damage. As occurred in the morning, Max’s day ends in serenity, as Max and their family watch the sunset and roast marshmallows by their wheat fields.
Mini Mighty Merry Molly
Molly is a very impressive toddler, with exceptional fine and gross motor control, artistry and the ability to speak two languages. She is very proud of saying she is a big girl. Molly’s vice is her dependency on her collection of 30 soothers. Her parents are conflicted about supporting Molly’s soother habit. The struggle hits a climax when during a ferry boat ride, Molly loses her balance, falls and ends up in a crying jag. Her parents can’t find one of her soothers, but a teenager comes to the rescue. She distracts Molly and reminds Molly that she is a big girl.
Following Molly proclaims she is a big girl and is ready to part with her soothers. Molly’s mom suggests they are given up to the soother fairy. Like the tooth fairy, the soothers are exchanged for a dime and a chocolate. Molly is ready to give up one more soother each night thereafter until she relinquishes her 7 soothers in exchange for seven chocolates and dimes. The book offers the reader the opportunity to use the pattern to make math predictions about totals and remainders.
Red and Blue Yarn and the Nest at the Barn
What’s so special about ravens? What can we learn from watching these amazing birds?
You’ll find out when you enjoy Red and Blue Yarn and the Nest at the Barn, an enchanting ‘yarn’ by Mary Catherine Rolston. The springtime observations of a passing hiker are imaginatively illustrated with ‘knitstrations’ created by needleworkers Carol Ponti and Donna Ridge.
All the proceeds of this book will be donated to The Victoria Native Friendship Centre, Victoria, British Columbia.
Sallie and Sheba
The simple story, Sallie and Sheba, is set on a west coast beach and describes the seaside walk taken by Sallie and her dog Sheba. It is an alliterative poetic reflection on the routine joy of walking the seashore with one’s dog. It captures the typical sights, patterns of a dog’s seaside discoveries, and the banter that occurs between owners and their dogs.
Christmas Winds Grant a Wish
Olga wishes desperately for a Christmas tree. Will that wish ever come true? Olga and her parents, the struggling immigrant owners of the ‘Plump Pierogi”, celebrate Ukrainian Christmas two weeks after all her classmates, and they have never closed their café for more than an evening. Money is tight and not to be spent on ‘extras’ like decorations. But the magical winds of change blow, so maybe this holiday will be different… This is a story which gives us insight as to how some children might feel who do not celebrate the typical North American-European Christian celebration of Christmas.
The Little Dot
Little Dot floats high in the sky and dreams of joining the festivities below. But a dot has no form, no dimension, so how can that be? Thanks to a magical fairy, Little Dot’s wishes are granted, and the reader is introduced to how shapes (lines, angles, triangles and rectangles) are formed. The story celebrates the power of friendship and teamwork as these dots and lines work together in creating new shapes. Their end goal is to participate in the festival of lights with one of the classic symbols, the Christmas tree.
Casey and Dash
Casey, a tuxedo cat and Dash, a Boston Terrier, live several streets over and both of their homes back onto a forest. Both end up escaping their homes and yards to wander in the forest and eventually end up exploring the beach. Both end up falling asleep in the same driftwood fort. When the tide rises the two animals end up meeting. Remarkably although they are different species, they look extremely similar yet their behaviour is very different. One is playful while the other is scared. Dash ends up nudging Casey out of the fort, directing her to safety on a park bench while they wait for their owners. It is a story that celebrates two unlikely species getting along.
The Stars and Magic That Made Us
A story celebrating families. A wonderfully magical, complex and at times challenging journey of love, interdependence, healthy boundaries and independence. The family is the powerful sacred foundation as we grow and find our purpose. As such we love to reminisce. Children love to hear their stories. Parents and grandparents love to tell them.
Remember the story of your own family, jogged by the rhyming emotive narrative and inspired by the stunning portfolio of artist Sandra Lamb.
All profits from the sale of this book will be donated to FAR: Families for Addiction Recovery.
Raven’s Revenge
Book 14 is very special to me as it is a true representation of creative collaboration. It was co-written and illustrated by Leslie Bell and me. It is set at the Filberg Lodge and Park, where two mischievous ravens, Caw and Squawk, have a plan to reshape their community while the park is closed for renovations. What will the humans find when they return?
I highly recommend that the adult reading this story have fun dramatically reading the parts of Caw and Squawk and encouraging your listeners to act out and or chime in with the various repetitions and rhymes.
A percentage of profits from the sale of this book will be donated to The Filberg Park and Lodge.
Saving Starfish, One at a Time
Sammy and Sasha have no idea the elderly women they call Grandma Agnes and Auntie Sophie are more than they appear, but they find out on a day spent sauntering along the sand beside the sea. Nature inspires as brother and sister learn about the magical starfish, all while helping Agnes and Sophie with their special mission!
Flash Frankie
There is no holding Frankie back! He’s on his bike and away, relishing exciting adventures all over the neighbourhood.
Sometimes he flies off by himself, sometimes he dashes with his friend Charlie, but always there’s some sort of superhero-ish aspect to his fun!
At the end of the day, he might need a hand to get home but he always knows the all-important information that every kid should know — his address and phone number!
An Unlikely Friendship, One Butterfly and One Whale
Can a whale and a butterfly see eye to eye? Whose perspective is right?
Wyatt and Bernie are a pair of creatures with contrasting characteristics and ideas about their place in the world. The enormous orca’s vision is black and white. The tiny butterfly sees in colour beyond the human spectrum.
Through their experiences navigating the human-made hurdles in the marine environment, they learn from one another to value their differences.
Problem Solving With O's
Discover how two best friends, with two very different styles, Olga and Oliver learn to cooperate and problem solve, with a story told with an ‘O’ alliterative theme.
*Please note the slight typo on the cover page of the video…oooopps a wee mistake during video production ? *