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! A playful and catchy rhyme is repeated throughout the story igniting one’s sense of hope and wonder:

“I’m on a search for something green,
A four-leaf clover that is rarely seen.
It is said that for those who find such a charm
That luck will stay and protect from harm.”

The front cover of In Search of Something Green

MC Rolston reading at a school visit

Years ago, our family of four would vacation at my parents’ cottage in the Laurentians in the summer. While there I would often look through masses of clover in search of four-leaf clovers. At the shore was a large dock, which allowed us to dive into the lake. During this one summer visit, our two sons, Matthew, a seven-year-old, and Andrew, a four-year-old , would excitedly head to the dock to jump off and practice their swimming skills learned during swimming lessons at the local pool back home. Andrew was tiny and fearless and didn’t think twice about jumping or diving off the dock. Although older, Matthew, who’d managed to successfully get through his swimming lessons, was terrified of the lake. Possibly this fear was rooted in his cautious personality, that he was exceptionally tall for his age and his height caused a long distance before he reached the water, or that the pressure to compete with his brother created a lathering cloud of anxiety. Try as we might, his father and I couldn’t help break through his fears. It was my father (yes, we called him the Grandpoobee) who managed to get through to Matt, gently coaching his every day with different strategies. My mom (yes, we gave her the nickname of Nanabanana), who also would sit by the sidelines and offer suggestions and sometimes critique my father to let Matt be, reassured Matt that in time he’d be able to dive off the dock. Hence, it was watching the power of this precious bond between grandson and grandparents that this story was born. We are so grateful for the role my parents played in helping our sons develop into the fine young men they are today.

Katie Shepherd resides in Winona, Ontario, and is an artist, piano teacher, mother of three, grandmother, and has been a leader of a variety of ministries within her church. Twenty years ago while Mary Catherine was teaching her three children over a three year period, she gave her story to Katie to read. A couple of months after, not hearing any feedback, Mary Catherine, asked Katie what she thought of the story. Katie grinned and replied, “I love it and I’m illustrating it!”. A thrilling moment to say the least for MC. Upon completion of the illustrations, Katie gifted all the illustrations to MC. MC vowed to work at getting the story published. Now twenty years later MC has published the story and returned the illustrations to their rightful home. When MC arrived at Katie’s doorstep with the water colours in hand, Katie said, “But I gave these to you.” MC responded , “They need to be with your family. They are a part of your family history (Katie used the likeness of her son, Cody, who just happened to look a touch like my son, and her husband Chris’ grandparents, when painting the characters).” Katie’s very generous gift of the heart made this final book possible. A truly remarkable and giving woman.

Predicting is an essential tool when developing as a strong reader. This story has been written to hook the young audience in engaging in predicable events.

Reflecting throughout a book helps make a read personal and come alive. It reflects a readers level of comprehension. A more thoughtful and complex reflection and connection reveals and higher understanding as oppose to simple literal comparisons and or relating. They also allow for a reader to reflect and retell part of the story as they are reflecting and relating. A simplistic retelling usually reflects a more simplistic understanding.

Making connections allows a reader to develop their understanding of a story through inferences and noting details.