Tiny Tales, Big Messages: Children’s Books Teach Kindness, Friendship & Resilience

What happens when a cupcake spreads kindness, a fly learns resilience, a raccoon cares deeply for her friends, and alphabet letters create playful chaos?  In this uplifting episode of Conversations That Make a Difference, host Teresa Velardi welcomes three inspiring children’s authors whose stories are helping shape young hearts and minds through imagination, friendship, kindness, creativity, and resilience.

Featured Books:
The Sprinkle Spreader by Catherine Laakso
The Adventures of Wink the Super Fast Fly by Laurie Hilton Rowland
Carrie the Caring Raccoon by Patricia Dolce
Commotion in the Alphabet House by Patricia Dolce
These heartwarming stories were inspired by real-life moments: spilled sprinkles, mischievous raccoons, persistent flies, grandchildren, classrooms, and everyday acts of kindness that became unforgettable lessons for children.

Throughout this conversation, the authors share:

• How their characters came to life
• Why kindness matters more than ever today
• How children respond to positive storytelling
• The importance of imagination and reading
• Why children’s books can shape confidence, compassion, and resilience
• The emotional journey of becoming a published author

Teresa also explores how storytelling helps children disconnect from screens and reconnect with empathy, creativity, friendship, and meaningful human connection. If you love uplifting conversations, children’s literature, inspirational authors, family-friendly storytelling, and books that make a positive impact, this episode is for you. Because tiny tales can carry very big messages.



Find these authors, and more, at AEP = Authentic Endeavors Publishing: https://authenticendeavorspublishing....

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Transcript

Conversations That Make a Difference with Teresa Velardi

SPEAKER_00 0:06

Welcome to Conversations That Make a Difference. With your host, Teresa Vellardi. We believe that authentic, meaningful, and diverse conversations are the glue that binds us together. Our discussions remind us we have the power to uplift, challenge, stretch, and invite dynamic groups. Are you like me? Feeling like your mind are taking your hands to life? Join us for conversations filled with gratitude, values, abundance, authenticity, and faith. Here's the host of our show, Teresa Villar.

Meet the Authors Behind These Heartwarming Stories

SPEAKER_03 0:56

Hey everyone, and welcome back to Conversations That Make a Difference. I'm so excited to have these ladies in the house tonight. We have Katherine Laxo, Patricia Dulce, Lori Hilton Rowland. They're going to be talking to us about their children's books. You're going to love this show. So before we get started, we always start with the serenity prayer. So let's take a moment to do that before we get going. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. And it is by God's grace that we are fabulous, blessed, and highly favored, living in our greatness, using our gifts and talents, making a difference in the lives of others with passion and purpose. And all of God's great universe is conspiring in our favor. And together we say gratefully, Amen. Amen. Welcome, girls. I'm so excited for this show. I'm so excited to show everyone your beautiful children's books that you've created. Let me tell everybody a little bit about each of you. But first, I want to ask a question to the audience. What does a cupcake, a super fast fly, a caring raccoon, and the alphabet have in common? I bet you can't guess. These are all characters in the beautiful children's books that these ladies have created, these fabulous women, and they also spread messages of kindness, friendship, and resilience. We like our books to have lessons for our little ones that are growing up, and we do it through beautiful characters that they have made up in their minds and created stories around. So I'm excited.

Catherine Laakso - The Sprinkle Spreader

SPEAKER_03 2:41

First, let's talk about Kath. Kath, Katherine Laxo, I call her Kath. She believes in the power of kindness, imagination, and a dash of sprinkles to brighten the world. You know, kindness is free and we can sprinkle it all around. And that's what her book is about kindness. Her debut children's book, The Sprinkle Spreader, was born from the idea that small acts of kindness can ripple into something big. Look at this character, isn't she adorable? Yeah, there she is on the screen. That is Maze. And she hopes Kath hopes to inspire children and adults alike to embrace creativity and compassion. Known as mom and gidge to her granddaughters who inspire the cheerleader characters. Catherine loves involving friends and family in her stories. When not traveling or visiting loved ones, she enjoys Florida's tranquil beaches, tending her tropical garden, and living her days with sunshine, creativity, and sprinkles of love. I want to come live at your house, Katherine.

SPEAKER_02 3:48

Anytime. Anytime. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 3:52

You're welcome.

SPEAKER_02 3:54

Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 3:55

You're so welcome. It's truth.

Laurie Rowland - The Adventures of Wink the Super Fast Fly

SPEAKER_03 3:58

Okay. Lori Rowland is a publisher author, poet, writer, and lyricist. Coming soon is her children's, she's working on her second children's books, but her first children's book is The Adventures of Wink, the Super Fast Fly. There he is, right there in full color. And her love of nature, travel, community, and music inspires her writing. Her self-deprecating humor makes her approachable and drawing the reader in. You're gonna love Wink. He's he's just fun. I think is Wink sitting on your desk, Lori. Yeah. Let's see him for real. Let's take the book down and see him for real. Look at him. There he is, hanging out, bopping around. Wait till you read this story. It's awesome. Now we

Patricia Dolce - Carrie the Caring Raccoon

SPEAKER_03 4:52

go to Patricia. Patricia Dulles is a native of Western New York. New York is my hometown, but we didn't live. He should live in the upper left corner. I lived in the lower right corner in Long Island, but she's a native of western New York. She moved to Illinois in 1977. She and her husband of 49 years, Jeffrey, great guy. These are one of my favorite couples, right? Um, they have two amazing children and five grandchildren. Patricia has taught elementary school for more than 25 years and is recently returned to teaching preschool once again. Patricia's active in several women's organizations and has contributed to social activity planning, decorating, and participating in her homeowners association. She loves to knit baby hats to donate and has a love for quilting and reading. She also has a great passion for skygazing with the family telescope. And you can see a little bit of her skygazing in her book Carrie, the Carrie Blackoon. And you can see a little bit quilting in Commotion in the Alphabet House. These are her two books. So we are so excited to have you here and to talk about these beautiful children's books that you ladies have created.

SPEAKER_05 6:12

Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 6:13

You're so welcome. So let's start with Patricia. We're gonna go to you

Commotion in The Alphabet House - A Family Legacy

SPEAKER_03 6:19

first. What is what was it about Commotion in the Alphabet House was your first book. So what inspired you to write this book?

SPEAKER_05 6:28

Um that was on the back burner for a long time, and I really had to think about it, and I wanted children to to learn the alphabet as I was writing it, and the fun things that they can do together. That that was that story.

The Real Raccoon That Inspired Patricia’s Story

SPEAKER_05 6:48

Um the raccoon. Well, the raccoon, when we first moved into this house, um, and it was two in the morning, and this raccoon would come on our roof all the time, and we had professionals come out and they couldn't catch him. And I told you how Jeff went commando. All we caught was a squirrel and a and an opossum, but um raccoons do go to their place of birth, as we all do. We all go back, and I told my husband, I said, I am gonna write about her. But she's going to be a kind and thoughtful raccoon, yeah. With her friends, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 7:37

Look at all her friends, look at all her friends, and she gets ready to go out and uh see her friends. She's packing a bag with all the snacks in it. She just this is just a cute story, a really cute story about um friendship and caring and kindness. Kind of all of these stories have an element of friendship in them as we go through them. You'll you'll you'll see that. So um now, how long did this sit in your head before you actually put it on paper and then brought it to life in the book? About a year.

SPEAKER_05 8:13

I would write things down and then I would add it. And I thought, okay, um, I will I don't want her on the roof, so I decided I'd put her by our shed, which we have. And growing up, I was a big fan of looking at the sky, and I've told you numerous times how we would connect the dots and watch for falling stars, and I incorporated that into it. I wanted, you know, children to look up at the sky every once in a while and see how beautiful it is at night, and even looking at the moon, uh, it just fascinated me, and I wanted that part of it. And then as the day, as the night, you know, starts to turn to dawn, she meets up with her friends that she only sees once a year, and she always brings treats with them. And I think that's a way of showing kindness and thinking of your friends and and taking care of them. So I wanted to incorporate that in there.

SPEAKER_03 9:18

And it's a great lesson for children, you know, to be kind and to to have friends and and spend time with your friends doing things that you love. Do you want to do you want to say anything about the squirrel running around the fence?

The Squirrel With the Giant Tomato That Made the Book

SPEAKER_03 9:32

I think it's hysterical.

SPEAKER_05 9:34

My husband and I are sitting down for dinner, and the neighbor that is kitty corner to us had this huge garden. And of course, all the animals would come through our yard and go to the garden. And it's close to the end of the growing season, so she just leaves it. And what she doesn't, she has a compost pile, and the squirrel literally had a tomato in his mouth and ran across, ran across the fence, and I was just like, no, that can't be true. And he did, he had this huge tomato, and then ran up the tree, and the Christmas tree, or the ran up our Christmas tree, and the two trees in our neighbor's yard. There's a two nest, and one was his, and I think the other one was his in Los. And the next night he did it again, and we were just laughing hysterically. I mean, this tomato was huge, and just to balance on that fence.

SPEAKER_03 10:37

So when they told me that, I was like, This is this is the squirrel on the fence running with tomato in the mouth. And thank goodness he has such a great illustrator for these books because he just takes the stories and brings them to life on the page in pictures. Look at that squirrel, that's that's as big as his head, that tomato.

SPEAKER_05 10:58

It was a huge tomato, and I I was astounded by how he he could even carry it. Yeah, he did it twice. So I thought, oh, this is great. I have to put this in my story. So she my neighbor actually was helping the animals from my yard to hers, which was really nice. She left all the leftovers, left all the leftovers for the animals.

SPEAKER_03 11:23

Well, that's a good thing. You have to be kind to the animals too, right? She was. Thank you for bringing these stories to life. They're great. I love them, they're so adorable. And I loved working with you on this. How does it feel to watch it go from a few lines on a piece of paper to a book in your hand?

SPEAKER_05 11:42

It was overwhelming, but yet it was exciting. Um I've always wanted to write children's books, and I thought I I just have to do this. I just have to. And it's it was a dream came true. I was so excited.

SPEAKER_03 12:01

Awesome. Yeah, maybe there's another one in there somewhere too. Somewhere, somewhere along the line, something else. Oh my goodness, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_05 12:11

Um, but I I can see my husband's face when I say it.

SPEAKER_03 12:18

Well, you know what? The fun thing about you, Patricia, is that you and Jeff, um, you you work together to bring the stories to life. Like I've watched this, I've watched this over the last two books, and it's fun to watch you bounce ideas off of each other and really have a fun time putting the books together. Um, and the first one I know was mostly because you wanted to have it for your grandchildren. And then, and then once you do the first one, it's like, oh, I think I have another story. I want to do it again, you know. So, and that's when Carrie came to life, and I thank you for that. I I wanted to leave something for my children and my grandchildren.

SPEAKER_05 12:55

Yes, and the second book, I I had to write about this raccoon. I mean, yeah, I didn't have a choice, yeah. And my third one, well, I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 13:06

Tell us, let it be a surprise, let it be a surprise.

SPEAKER_05 13:10

I will, I won't tell you I'm writing my thoughts down. Okay, I don't know where it will go, but that's how I start. I write, I write things down and then I go back and I'll add something, and I'll be like oh no, I don't like that. And then I'll I'll ask my husband Jeff if what do you think? And he said, Yeah, that's great. You know, let's do this, and then he will he will bring the best of me.

SPEAKER_03 13:36

Um so I I appreciate that. It's it's fun to watch this happen, it's fun to watch this all come together.

SPEAKER_05 13:44

Thank you, thank you for all your help and all the numerous hours you spent with me.

SPEAKER_03 13:52

Yeah, I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you. Yeah, I would have I enjoyed every minute of it, every minute, every minute of it. So thanks. Kat, let's go to you.

SPEAKER_02 14:04

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 14:05

Okay. Um, so we have Miss Maggie Mays, the sprinkle spreader. How did she come to life? What how did you how did you think of this? What I love about this is every part every every character in this book, every sweet treat, every sweet treat in this book is representative of a friend or family member in Calf's life. How did this how did this happen? Tell me.

Turning Spilled Sprinkles Into a Children’s Book Idea

SPEAKER_02 14:32

I have always wanted to write a book. And one day I was, I have to admit, I was scooping some ice cream and putting some sprinkles on the ice cream and they spilled. So I was like, what row? Got the vacuum out, little handheld, and got them all up. And I thought they're just spreading everywhere. And then it made me think spreading sprinkle, sprinkles spreading. And then I thought of a cupcake with sprinkles, and then it all just went bing bada boom boom boom. And these characters that are off the wall so cute, they just came to my head and I sketched out. And you know, I give so many kudos to Al John. He was fantastic as the illustrator, but the original characters came in my head, and he just brought them to life and just gave them so much exciting energy and just the way I wanted to.

SPEAKER_03 15:39

So yeah.

SPEAKER_02 15:40

The whole premise is just about spreading the sprinkles off your cupcake head onto somebody else and just let them all spread around.

SPEAKER_03 15:50

Yeah, that's it. Kindness is free, sprinkle it around, right?

SPEAKER_02 15:53

That's right. That's right.

SPEAKER_03 15:55

Yeah. So

Real Family Members Hidden Inside the Characters

SPEAKER_03 15:57

um each one of these, each one of these characters has a personality. Um, and the personalities are, are they actually the personalities of the people that they represent? Absolutely, a hundred percent.

SPEAKER_02 16:12

Yeah. A hundred percent. And the little cheerleaders in the book are my grandchildren. I have four daughters, grandchildren, daughters or granddaughters, excuse me. Yes, these ones. I asked each one of them what they would like to be, and they told me a cheese pizza or popcorn or the you know, a strawberry or a popsicle. And so we incorporated them in the book. And now I'm gonna have to write another book because my daughter's having her fifth daughter.

SPEAKER_05 16:49

Well, congratulations.

SPEAKER_02 16:50

We need to add another.

SPEAKER_03 16:52

Oh my goodness. Congratulations. I have no idea.

SPEAKER_02 16:58

Yep, number five.

SPEAKER_03 17:00

Five girls, five girls, yes.

SPEAKER_02 17:03

Nice, yeah. So obviously, you know, just having a legacy and having them get be a part of it and and loving it. And my daughter's a first grade teacher, not the mother, the different daughter, but anyway, she has this book in her classroom on repeat, and the kids want it over and over, and they're drawing pictures with cupcakes, and you know, it's just so endearing. Yeah, such a blessing. Yeah, it really is.

SPEAKER_03 17:37

They're wearing that book out in that classroom.

SPEAKER_02 17:39

They are the the kind of falling apart there.

SPEAKER_03 17:45

That's a good thing.

SPEAKER_02 17:46

That's a good thing.

SPEAKER_03 17:47

That's a good thing. Pages have been turned so many times. Yep. You know, it's interesting that kids eat up this kind of this kind of story that has fun characters and a fun message of being kind. Does she notice any difference with her children in the classroom? How they how they are with one another? Let's talk about that for a little bit. What do you what did she tell you?

SPEAKER_02 18:11

She just well, um she has a little a boy in her class, and he is just the happiest boy, literally happy, happy, happy. And he is just saying, Mrs. Chore, Mrs. Chore, I spread sprinkles, I spread sprinkles, Mrs. Chore, Mrs. Shore. You know, helping with the somebody, you know, dropping a crayon picking it up. Something so menial. It's like, Mrs. Chore, did you see I I helped? So it was really, yeah, it yeah, the kids are just loving this.

SPEAKER_03 18:49

Yeah. And I think that's wonderful because the message of being kind to one another and helping is just um, I we need these kind of messages today in the classroom, especially with all the noise that's going on out here. It's just wonderful to have these beautiful little stories. And I gotta tell you something, every time I see this cupcake, I'm like, oh, I think I better go over to the bakery and get me a cupcake. It looks like that one. Yes, uh yeah. I've eaten plenty of cupcakes lately. Yeah, I have two in my day. You know what I what I love about this too is that um

The Kindness Ripple Effect

SPEAKER_03 19:30

and what what I love about working with you ladies is each one of you is kind, caring, considerate. I'll never forget the day that Kath, I got this package in the mail from Kat, Kat, Katherine Lasco. Kath, I'm calling you Kath, I'm sorry. Um no, thank you. But I got this package in the mail, and there was a card and a package that had paper uh uh wrapping paper with sprinkles all over it. I'm like, this is just too cute. And when I opened it up, there was a bought a little bottle of sprinkles. I have it in my cabinet. Every time I open the cabinet, I see the sprinkles. I think of you and I it and what they represent, the kindness. So that's what it's about to spread it. Thank you. Thanks so much. You're so welcome. Thank you for for saying yes to this. And for um, we had a we have a mutual uh acquaintance, acquaintance, friend, somebody who recommended you, and I'm so grateful to her because I just I just I just love working with you and I love the story. And uh, you know, here's the thing about me, I get to make friends all over the place with the work that I do. And it was and it's what's beautiful about this is every one of you I connect, I connect with each of you in a way that just makes my heart sing.

SPEAKER_02 20:53

So thank you. We're all blessed, we're blessed to have you. Absolutely, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 20:59

Couldn't do it without you.

SPEAKER_02 21:01

No, absolutely couldn't. I would have quit a long time ago.

SPEAKER_03 21:05

And now let's number two with baby number five, grandbaby number five coming along. Wow, we've got includer, yeah, got included her. Yeah, okay. Thanks, Kath. We're gonna come back, but um Lori, show me Wink on the table. He's adorable. So can I just tell you that I love this? He looks just like the character.

SPEAKER_01 21:32

No, and just I was when I when he first uh unveiled it, I was just gobstopped. I didn't even know what to say. I was like, oh my gosh. I mean, although because he does work with metal, it's our son-in-law, um, Eric. And but the eyes, the way he got the eyes, everything, and he's like the little tongue and his arm in the air. He just did a great job. And it was such a such a I don't know, great thank you for all their patience and everybody. know, waiting for it to come to life and and so anyway, this is this is really fun for me to have.

SPEAKER_03 22:06

Yeah, that's awesome. So yeah, it would be it would be so awesome to I I have um one one uh uh children's book author January she has a little bee who is the main character and she had a little stuffy made out of the bee a little stuffed animal made out of the bee could you imagine winks being in the in the in the toy box I can imagine winks being in the toy box and and also Maggie Mays and Carrie the raccoon I can imagine all being in the toy box you know so fun.

Wink the Super Fast Fly: A Story Decades in the Making

SPEAKER_03 22:40

Lori how did you come up with Wink the super fast fly and all of the all of the animals that are in here all the the flies and whatnot and the characters are are hysterical.

SPEAKER_01 22:51

People have asked me that but literally when the whole thing was being conceived in my brain was decades ago. I was always a storyteller I I worked in uh a a preschool and um I was the one that would tell stories just make them up and so I I love storytelling and then somewhere along the way when we're when uh our babies were little or girls were young anyway um this probably started when I could not get a pesky fly uh I probably tried swatting at it and it kept getting away and finally I I like had to give this little critter uh props because he kept getting away and and I think what I said to my husband is like he's just so fly you know he can get away and um so that was years and years and years ago

Losing a Manuscript and Finding the Courage to Rewrite

SPEAKER_01 23:43

when I did write the the book and there were these fun other flies that caught came up in my in my mind that could you know be in this community. And then uh one day when my kids were probably middle school or so um I think maybe in a little older our house was broken into and they stole my computer and I had not printed the copy yet and so the story was gone and I had so much in there because I I wasn't sure if it was going to be like a young reader book. So there were lots and lots of words and c and concepts and that I had really um could could hone down on if I wanted to but that's where it they they just got everything I had and I was um kind of disheartened. I I just gave it up for a while and said I'll write again later you know um for now I just I gave it up and plus back then it was really hard to get published if you weren't already somebody you know 20 that uh 2009 um was kind of in that era where they just weren't gonna take any new any new uh authors so it's it's that and finally one of my girls said mom you you need to write that book and originally we did name him so fly um but that was years ago when it was was it Michael Jordan that used to talk about he's so fly and so we we decided to to name him differently for for the book and call him wink um but yeah that's that's where he originated from nice and then all his character friends are some of my favorites some of them I love as much or more than Wake. Yeah they're fun i i gotta I gotta bring I gotta bring some light to Bonita Bonita is let's talk about bonita and where she who she what she is and who she is I just figure like I said I had this this fly in my head but then I thought well where does he go and you know who are gonna be some of his friends and and bonita meets him in the farmer's market and you know hola mime mi amigo and um and he's he's like uh I don't eat fruit I want something smelly and and gross because I'm a fly so some people are like at first I had a friend that was like a fly you're writing about a fly and I'm like yeah but he's cute and he's funny and he eats garbage and she's just like I'm sorry I don't I don't again she finally bought three uh copies and gave them to her nephews and nieces and she was on board but it is a concept yeah and and um actually this story takes him from he lives in the city right so he starts out in the big city and then something happens where he ends up in a truck and somebody trying to take him out with a a rag right he gets stuck inside talk a little bit about the wise flies

The Wise Flies and Lessons About Life’s Invisible Walls

SPEAKER_01 26:48

yeah because I was thinking you know if you're a young fly and and well while he was in the city and what are the dangers for a young fly and one of them is getting trapped behind glass and you always see the fly going you know trying to get out and and then you see what's in the windowsill later with um flies that didn't uh make it outside um so I thought about you know they would get lessons from like the wise flies and that's what in my mind I called them who would say you know you have to be careful about the the invisible walls is what I call them. And um so that that comes up a couple of times and I give so much thanks to Aljan for being able to in that that um picture you showed he he right in front of us drew his envision or his vision of of a wisefly and how he would be teaching him on a whiteboard uh and that that throughout the book um week remembers things like that he says oh he remembers what the wiseflies said and yeah that's such such a classic

Teaching Resilience Through Fun and Funny Characters

SPEAKER_01 27:56

yeah so cool and then uh so uh and then let's talk about um Monique Monique I figured she's not a fly but she does fly so we we brought her into it and uh she's the uh kind of matriarch and she's really pretty and and she was really kind uh to wink when he was uh kind of down and discouraged and didn't know he was if he was ever going to get back home.

SPEAKER_03 28:25

Yeah but and he makes a home somewhere else and and this this story is about resilience it's about kindness it's about friendship it's about a lot of different things just like just like each one of the stories is about friendship kindness and resilience you know so um they these these ladies have put together some really good children's stories that teach valuable lessons and keep the attention of kids I mean when Kath shared about how this little boy is always conscious about being kind and helping others and and and Patricia talked about um you know Carrie always packing um goodies for her friends I mean what's left out here there's nothing left out here right Kath I know you have something else in your mind that you're gonna be doing with um with these characters what's the next one we're working on a little bit of teamwork yeah and I think that um these they're gonna have so much fun they're gonna get into all kinds of shenanigans and that's I I need to just keep pushing life can be difficult and you can go through a lot of struggles but you can still have fun along the way. Exactly exactly we all have challenges we all have loss we all have we all have um things to trip over in this mess in this thing we call life that's right that's right and yeah knowing that we'll we'll get started on that real soon. Yeah yeah I know and knowing that here's the thing knowing that you have um each one of you has a purpose now where your books are concerned and and I love that you know there's another one coming and I know laurie you have another you have um another character that you want to write about and Patricia I don't know what's going on that pretty little head of yours but you got something cooking in there I've been writing things down yeah I know

The Classroom Impact of Kindness-Based Stories

SPEAKER_03 30:39

but the thing the thing is is that what I'm hearing is once you see the effect especially with your what you said with your your daughter with the um kids in the in the in the preschool and or the first grade um you know and they're they're latching on to what's what you're putting out there that's why children's books are so important today because they can learn from these little characters they love the characters and they just embrace the concepts that you you girls are putting out there you know so I just I feel immensely blessed to be part of your journey as you as you venture forth and whatever else comes into your head in your imagination I believe I think it's a God thing if you ask me you know it's a God thing.

Daily Gift Book series

SPEAKER_03 31:27

So um it's just a blessing but and and the other thing is too these girls don't just write about uh children's books you know I have I talk about all the time the daily gift book series um that was kind of like a tap on my shoulder to get people to write their stories all about one topic which is the first one was gratitude right daily gift of gratitude and then and then we wrote a daily gift of hope and then a daily gift of kindness came from that and these are all they all play on one another with a grateful heart you become more hopeful. When you're hopeful and grateful then you can be kinder and then you can find a peace a message of peace in your heart and your soul and live a more peaceful life. The friendship book they're all gone I have to get more um a daily gift of friendship I think I think um I don't remember which one each of you wrote in but now we have a daily gift of inspiration coming and I know that each one of you um if you haven't already contributed that you are contributing something to a daily gift of inspiration and I think that's perfect because each one of these stories is inspired by something either in your life or in the life of somebody else or something else like the raccoon coming back home for the um you know they go back to their birthplace and and the story that you told about the fly Lori and and I know Kat you just explained how the sprinkle spreader came to life so you know I mean and then it just brings it brings out your creativity what would life be without creativity boring one word I was going to say one word boring right on the same track exactly exactly so I um I have a um a group of people who I'm blessed to have a group of people who have great imaginations and cute little stories that make a difference in the lives of other people little

How Reading Together Shapes Kindness in Young Children

SPEAKER_03 33:30

people particularly but you know what they it touches the parents too that's the whole thing.

SPEAKER_01 33:36

What's kind laurie when you write read your grand when you read your story to kids I mean I know you have a granddaughter right yeah yeah so when you read your story what how does her reaction make you feel like like about what you've done uh the first time we read it because she's uh just over four um so uh when it came out right around Christmas time I could see her processing it because it was a different world she's look she's hearing about uh you know the the dragonfly or the or Monique the butterfly and and how uh impacted how how so fly or wink was was impacted by what was going on and just the process was really fun to watch because she was paying attention and learning who who does what and it's a little bit of science base in there about the insects insect world so it was a blessing it was really cute to see her you know say do do it again because then she could understand a little bit more she was she's pretty new for for some of the concepts but yeah it was a blessing and what about the I'm curious as to what look at Jasper so cute right thank goodness for Al John he's just amazing um what did she think about when the um oh what did she think about when the fly got caught yeah her eyes got pretty big what did she think about that yeah her eyes got pretty big and she's just like uh oh you know but but you know like like like it says in the book you know things like that happen in near the pond yeah exactly exactly Kath what did your granddaughters think of themselves as as uh characters in the book uh my little Catherine who's five now she's like there I am there I am and and then she named two everybody else's and my daughter's dog is in the book and I mean it's just it they're having so much fun it's almost like a a hide and seek game for them you know there's my mom there's my aunt Aunt Caroline there's this you know yeah there's Uncle Anton there's everybody so yeah everybody's in the book everybody's in the book yeah yeah what's your uh Patricia what is the reaction from the um the kids that you read the book to and what about your granddaughters how did they how do they feel about their grandma being a children's book author they were very excited for me and they love my books so that that made me so happy even my children were excited for me yeah and my husband you read the book to the kids at school right yes I did and they loved it they asked me to read it again so it's it's on the chalkboard and um they will look through it which excites me and um they're funny because when they see the back page of me they kind of look at me and look at the back page and they go oh yeah that's her yeah that's me yeah but no they will ask me and um I'm excited about it.

SPEAKER_03 37:04

Yeah it's it's exciting to to to have something like this especially like I don't have grandchildren I have a grandpuppy I can't read the story to the grandpuppy we could do tricks for treats but I can't read the story to the grandpuppy but I'm I'm excited that one day one day I will have a grandchild and um and I'll get an opportunity to read all of these books to them um and see you know see what their reactions are because it has to light you up it just has to light you up. I mean just look at the smiles on the faces of these women having put having put these stories out there and there's more to come um it's just it's a joy to be able to spread um good things in the world today good things

Why Kids Need More Books and Less Screen Time

SPEAKER_03 37:50

so yeah with everything that's going on yes yeah I I listen to the um the four year olds and they talk about all these games they play and I'm just I don't say anything but it worries me yeah because I don't think they should be playing these games but you mean on the on the electronic devices yeah or at home and yeah yeah but you know I stress kindness to you know help your friends the need and they do they're they're latching onto it they're understanding they're still growing though there's a lot to learn yeah but I've seen a big change yeah that makes me happy that's good yeah you're making a difference and that's why that's why this conversation has to be had on conversations that make a difference because we do um you know whether it's conversations with each other conversations with the children conversations through the books and the characters that you created um it's just it's just awesome that you have come to the table and and brought out these beautiful things because you're absolutely right the devices the the games they're they're trouble um they are you never know who's on the other side and and to do something simple like gathering children around a table to read a story can make a whole change in somebody's attitude can make a whole change in their habits and do you find that it encourages them to read other things Patricia as a teacher do you did do they ask for to read other books too yes they do um I have a bookcase and they'll go back and they always come back to their favorite book which is interesting um and they will sit together and and look at it and it's really encouraged it makes me feel really good that you know they're sitting together and they're looking at the pages and they're um talking about them.

SPEAKER_05 40:02

And I've noticed a change if within the last couple months since they're now all turning four they're helping each other. It's time to clean up they they will go around the room and help each other you know put the blocks away or put the Legos away and I'm finding that they're putting the play-doh away I don't have to ask them they just do it. When it's time to go outside and of course we haven't been out a lot because due to all the rain but the last couple days um they help each other like I will start their zippers and I'll say you finish and they'll step up and help another child and it just melts my heart knowing that okay they're learning and that you know they're they know that they have this child is having issues with the zipper and they will help them. Yeah so that makes me really happy it's like oh good they're learning yeah they're so sweet they're at such a young age and I sometimes I have to bite my tongue and just step away and let them do their thing.

SPEAKER_03 41:20

Yeah yeah

A Hand Illustrator Brings the Characters to Life

SPEAKER_03 41:22

but look you even put quilting in your your love of quilting comes out with the cue in the in the alphabet book each one of them I mean each one of these characters has something going on like what's going on the commotion in the alphabet they're all over the place look at this are hanging out together taking a nap. Yeah I mean the letters the letters come to life and this has to encourage them to tease tipped on her own toe tipped on her own toe yeah it's just silly silly stuff making making you giggle and laugh and and they you know look at hey look at I love that one when he goes on vacation that's so cute and this is the brilliance of the illustrator right absolutely nice to see like if a child falls in the playground they will come and make sure you know their child is okay but I'm I'm seeing improvements you know they start out as young threes and that's hard yeah be away from your parents and not knowing me they don't know me and now they have rules to follow and it's as they're turning it's just it just melts my heart knowing yes I'm doing something good.

SPEAKER_01 42:48

Yes you are doing something good and the stories are helping the stories are helping Lori what do you um when you are um in your head with all these these flies because this is this is this is also um a teaching tool you know to teach people to teach the kids about the different flies and you know where they live what they what their characteristics are how they behave do you get any um have you have you reached out yet to any of the schools to read some of this to them have you been able to do that I haven't recently because we've been traveling so much but um now we're we're home for a few months at a time so this is going to be good and

Encouraging a Lifelong Love of Reading

SPEAKER_01 43:35

but yeah and and like to pony or pig back on what you guys are talking about what what we are also doing is creating um a hunger for kids to read. Yes exactly to the library all the time I was a stay at home mom for 10 years. So uh that was one of the things that that I did they could we I think they were allowed like 10 a piece and we just went Through them, took them back. They did have some of their favorites that they wanted to check to check out again. But I I think creating um books that draw the kids in and yes, have the messages, it creates a hunger to read more. And I think that's so important. It keeps them occupied so they don't really have to be on the games. They they can um you know do something more more productive in in reading, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 44:28

Exactly. Were you a big reader as a kid? Any of you? No, I wasn't. Patricia was. It's so cute that um cute. It's it's in um enchanting, I want to say that even if you didn't read, you still have an imagination for these stories that will lead to your children, your grandchildren, little school, you know, school children, um have a love for reading. And I think that's that's awesome. Did you read to your kids when they were young? That's yeah, yes, yes, yeah. Do you have a favorite book? Do they do they have a favorite book besides the ones that you've written? Do they have a favorite book?

unknown 45:21

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_02 45:22

No, my children are much older. Um, you know, I maybe it was my favorite, but do you remember I'll Love You Forever?

SPEAKER_03 45:34

I think so, yeah. Yeah, I think so.

SPEAKER_02 45:36

I thought that was just a sweet, sweet book.

SPEAKER_03 45:39

A sweet book, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 45:41

My favorite book as a child when I was little was Uncle Wiggly.

SPEAKER_03 45:47

Do you ever remember Uncle Wiggily? I don't remember Uncle Wiggily. Maybe you have to read, you know. Yeah, who is white? Yeah, Uncle Wiggily. You know, when I was a kid and and third, I remember I had a teacher in third grade who used to read to us Uncle Remus stories, and she was from the South, and she would put on her southern accent and do all the characters, and we we were just like enthralled by the fact that someone could read us these books and become the characters. And I I think that um, you know, I'm I can imagine you, Kath, becoming the characters of your friends that are sitting underneath that tree while your daughters are on the swing. You know, I could I could picture that, yes?

SPEAKER_04 46:30

Yep, absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 46:32

Of course. You bring the characters to life. And when when there's when there's life in the books, there's life in the house, you know. That's instead of everybody just looking down at their phones all the time, which is sad that that's what's going on in the world today. But thank you to each one of you for having brought your concept of kindness and friendship and resilience.

Building Confidence and Self-Worth Through Kindness

SPEAKER_02 46:57

I think it builds self-worth for these kids to be kind, it builds their self-esteem, it makes them feel good. It's not always about making the other person feel good, it's like you you it's a big lesson to learn when you're helping someone else. It it really helps you almost more than it helps the other person. Yeah. So what once you learn that at a young age, that's a gift. Yeah, absolutely a real gift.

SPEAKER_03 47:28

I agree. And each one of you brings that to the table with the to these stories. I mean, look at we have we have Chip and Dippy. This is Chip and Dippy. Okay, so this is a donut, and he's Dippy, and this is Chip. He got a bite taken out of himself. He didn't actually get bit, he felt he bumped into he bumped into Dippy, and that's what happened. He got he got a leg that wasn't so good, and he lost a piece of his head. So, I mean, just just for me, for me, as I'm going through this, as I'm going through the process of putting these books together, I'm in a state of pure joy. I'm like the little kid in me is alive and well and running out around the house coming up with things to talk to the illustrator about. It's like it doesn't get any more fun than this. As a creative, it doesn't get any more fun than this. I love it. So fun.

SPEAKER_01 48:24

And hopefully it's inspiring to other people to hear that um a couple of the authors were not big readers. I mean, I I I joke and say that I I'm one of those authors that I can't spell and I don't read. Teresa said well, that's why you have editors.

SPEAKER_02 48:47

That's right.

SPEAKER_03 48:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 48:49

I I know I can't punctuate, right, Teresa? Punctuation was a big deal.

SPEAKER_03 48:55

You're not the only one. You're not the only one. I have people that are writing self-help books, and I think that the next self-help book is going to be about punctuation and structure, you know. So, and the word note in me comes alive.

SPEAKER_02 49:11

Hey, we're all being authentic, and what more do you want? That's you know, exactly. We're just loving the process, having fun with it.

SPEAKER_05 49:20

Sometimes I come home and I talk to Jeff like I'm still at school and teaching the three and four-year-olds, and you know, I'm not your student.

SPEAKER_04 49:32

So I have to I have to flip yeah.

SPEAKER_05 49:38

What I have to say. Because when you talk to three and four years old all day, then you come home and you're still in that process. So I have to online.

The Hidden Life Lessons Inside Children’s Literature

SPEAKER_03 49:51

So I want to encourage everybody who's listening today to um take a lesson from these ladies that you can bring kindness in the into the world through the pages of a children's book, and you can also live a better life for yourself from a place of kindness and from a place of being a good friend. And you know, and then also being when situations happen in your world and things things don't go so so well, like uh dippy and slippy and chippy, whatever, chip and chip. They bump into each other in the playground and they're helping each other out. Like they didn't blame each other, they just picked each other up and got up and did the best they could. And then the other characters bake them a cake. How how cool is that? How cool is that? I mean, yeah. So use these, take these life lessons that these children are learning through the pages of these books, these wonderful books that you girls have created, and um and do something with it for yourself. I mean, first, you know, speak to the adult. Children learn what they live. So if you're you girls are bringing bringing the message of kindness and friendship and resilience and anything else that's good into love and compassion, um, into the worlds of children who may not may not have it today. Um, and I don't know about you. I grew up in a house where the back door was open all the time, coffee was always on the on the table, you know, on the on the in the stove. Um we're talking a long time ago. It used to be coffee pot on the stove. Um, but anyway, um, there was always somebody in my house. There were always kids from the neighborhood in my house. There was always, you know, friends stopping by. And I I mean, I remember when I um when I was talking about my mom to someone recently, I said, one thing that I I got from my mother is the gift of knowing how to be a good friend. And she because she was always she was always kind and considerate and and being a good friend to to her friends. And I I mean, she had friends for 50 years and more. And when I when I heard that, I was like, oh my goodness, that's a long time until they went to my reunion this year. And I love that I've had for 50 years in my reunion, right? So it's just it, you know, it's it passes you pass along generation to generation. And what you're doing, ladies, is a good thing. It's a good thing.

unknown 52:21

Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 52:22

Anything else you want to say about your books? What's next? What you um what you got out of this experience more than anything else? I mean, I see the joy on your faces, it's just amazing.

SPEAKER_01 52:34

But what you think I would say is I really appreciate indeed your authenticity, and I was I felt confident in trusting you with what had been in my head, and and I didn't want it to get stolen in in a the other way as it did got taken from me. So I really appreciate it, and I've recommended you to other people that have got that you know book in their head but haven't written it down, and um, because I I know people that spent a lot of money on a book that uh really wasn't very good, and that's really it's hard to watch that um to for somebody else to put out something, and I I I couldn't can I couldn't, what do you call that, put my stamp on it. I just I was like, oh that's great, have a great time. I hope book goes well. I just couldn't, yeah, you know what I mean? It was so poorly done, and and somebody didn't guide them in all the right directions to do that. So I would really appreciate that about you.

Teresa Velardi on Publishing Stories That Matter

SPEAKER_03 53:36

Thank you, thank you. Yeah, it brings me great joy to be able to bring things to the table in a process that everybody gets something out of it, and and you're happy with the result, and that makes me smile. That makes me smile.

SPEAKER_02 53:51

So grateful.

SPEAKER_03 53:52

Yeah, thank you. Thank you, thank you, ladies. I'm so grateful for each and every one of you. And you know, you're not the only person who's told me that they've had a bad experience or know somebody that has a bad experience. I came, I got somebody come to me that had a terrible experience of trying to get their message out with the the illustrations that they wanted. And you know, today there's a lot of people who are doing a lot of things with AI and they just don't appreciate the art that of creating a character. Yes, you can talk into whatever, you can talk into the computer, your phone, or whatever, and say, I want to see this. And yes, you'll get a picture. But does it have the love of the story instilled in the characters? And I think each one of you can um can attest to the fact that you know the illustrator that we have um that does our children's books um has a love for each and every one of the stories. You should hear us when we're on the we when we're on the Zoom call and we're reading the stories and we're and he's like drawing the stuff as I'm talking to him. And it's just it comes to life so and so much, it's just so much fun. It's just so much fun to be part of this. Um, I'm a little kid. I'm a little kid at heart, aren't we? All though, yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 55:11

I'm so blessed for all you have done for me. Thanks.

SPEAKER_03 55:17

Thank you. And our friendship, it means a lot, and that's the thing, you know, we become friends, we become, we become family. We don't just become friends, we become family, helping one another to do what you know, to do whatever we do in the way that it makes a difference for each other. And that's what really that lights me up. That lights me up.

SPEAKER_01 55:40

And you didn't squelch a story. We we had some changes that we needed to make, like with the name and um some adjustments and stuff. But I I appreciated too that you know, I I I say I I grew up, but I'm never really matured. So I always have these stories and these silly things in my head, and and you didn't you didn't require that I make any uh changes to that. So I appreciate that too. Yeah, it's my pleasure.

SPEAKER_03 56:09

Yeah, they're good. Why would I want to change it? Why would I want to change it? Maybe put a little bit of uh grammar correction, sentence structure, whatever. But that's the word nerve in me, like I said. But you know, the stories are great. The stories are really good, and I think anyone who gets them, they're all available on Amazon. We'll put the links below in the um in the description where you can go and get them. I'll make sure that that takes place. Um, so if you want to get any of these stories or want to know what's happening, you can also go to authentic endeavors publishing.com and find the author's name on the our books page. And there's a link to Amazon for all of these books, is there for you to go ahead and get your copies and share them with your families, your friends, your nieces, your nephews, whoever you can think of who would want to have a beautiful children's story read to them. They're fun. They are fun,

Creating Stories From Everyday Life

SPEAKER_03 57:02

they are fun. The the squirrel with the tomato in her mouth, the tomato is big in the squirrel's head, that like put me over the edge that day.

SPEAKER_05 57:13

It was hysterical. I thought that's it. He's going in my book.

SPEAKER_03 57:18

I love it. Yeah, being fun, fun, fun, fun. And the kids, oh, by the way, Kathy, you have to tell the the football, the football game is because why?

SPEAKER_02 57:30

I'm born and raised in Pittsburgh. So that we've got a little Pittsburgh going on. That's why Chip and Diffy went all slippy. It's a Pittsburgh word. So yeah. If if if you understand Pittsburgh, you'll see a little bit of Pittsburgh. The dog's name is Rooney, which he really she really is, was unfortunately, Rooney. So yeah, we're a big Pittsburgh family.

SPEAKER_03 57:59

Yeah. I was just out there when they were doing the uh the draft, the football draft out there last weekend, and not this past weekend, weekend before. Everybody was a Steelers fan. Everybody, everybody. Yeah. So, ladies, I hope you have had a really good time having this conversation with me. Did you?

SPEAKER_02 58:19

Yes. Yes, thank you so much.

SPEAKER_03 58:22

You're so

Creativity, Compassion & Conversations That Make a Difference

SPEAKER_03 58:23

welcome. You're so welcome. And I've loved every minute of it, and I I know that there's more of that that goes on even beyond this. And I just encourage you to share your stories wherever they are. And if you that are listening have a children's story or any story that you would like to see published, either in a children's book, in one of the daily gift books, watch look for these ladies too. They'll be in the in the books with you and bringing their message of kindness, inspiration, hope, um, happiness and joy is coming at Christmas time. Um, and so we we've this is not something that stops in one in one little thing. We put we put you into places where you might never have been seen if you didn't um have the opportunity to be in one of those daily gift books. But I want to just say this to everyone who's listening: every conversation that you have makes a difference, whether you're making a difference with someone else who you might call friend, with a stranger, or even with yourself, make sure that every conversation that you're having in your world, in one way or another, makes a difference in the life of another. And that's what we have for this issue of conversations that make a difference. And we'll see you the next time. Have a good day, everybody. Thank you, ladies. Thank you. Love you all. It's just amazing to be able to hang out with you girls for an hour and have this conversation. Thanks for the time, the fun time that we had. Appreciate you. Thank you. Make a difference for others.

SPEAKER_00 59:54

That brings us to the close of another episode of Conversations That Make a Difference with host Teresa Vellardi. We want to sincerely thank you for tuning in and sharing your time with us today. Our greatest hope is that today's discussion inspired your personal growth, encouraged you to share your unique gift, and gave you the courage to write your own magnificent story. If this message resonated with you, let's keep the conversation going. Take a moment to like, comment, and subscribe on YouTube and follow us on our Conversations That Make a Difference Facebook page. This will ensure you never miss a moment of inspiration. We air new episodes every Tuesday at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe. It truly helps us reach and empower more people. Until next time, keep making a difference. We look forward to welcoming you back next Tuesday to our next conversation.