Children’s
The Ugly Dog
For my daughter’s 10th birthday, I gave her a fluffy stuffed dog with rainbow-colored fur, and this story to go along with it… Once upon a time, there was a dog born with no fur. No fur?!? That’s right. No fur. Just skin. And really wrinkly, spotted skin. He wasn’t a pretty dog. Sounds pretty […]
The Future’s A Surprise
In the days before and after my first daughter was born, I spent some late sleepless nights writing this (long, rhyming) story to/for her. I: A Story to TellLadies and Gentlemen, gather round, gather near.I have a story to tell, one you will all want to hear.There once was a girl, beautiful and wise.An amazing […]
The rainbow frog & the mad scientist
The Adventures of Caroline and Euni: Book one
Caroline is a clever and feisty girl who loves adventure and exploring. One day, she discovers a frog with a brilliant rainbow pattern on its back and despite her father’s rule against animals in the house, Caroline decides to bring it home. Hiding a frog in her room is one challenge but as the rainbow frog quickly grows into an actual unicorn, the secret becomes too much for her to hide!
In the first book in The Adventures of Caroline & Euni series, we join Caroline and her pet unicorn, Euni, on their first adventures. Euni’s magical power eventually convinces Caroline’s father that she should become part of the family but when a mad scientist learns about the magic, he wants it for himself!
When Caroline decides to rescue Euni, the challenges resulting from her decisions add up. Can Caroline rescue Euni, and make it back home in time for her tenth birthday party? Read the story behind the story
Illustrated by Chia Americo
“An enchanting and wise tale that will be enjoyed by anyone who still remembers what it’s like to sense magic in the world.”
—Readers’ Favorite Book Review
The witch and the Queen
The Adventures of Caroline and Euni: Book one
Caroline and Euni are back in this new, heartwarming epic adventure! Will Caroline have the courage and perseverance she needs to travel to save her pet unicorn from the Land of Magic?
The Witch and the Queen picks up where Book One of The Adventures of Caroline and Euni (The Rainbow Frog & The Mad Scientist) left off: brave young Caroline travels with her pet unicorn, Euni, to confront the wrathful Witch.
When Caroline decides to rescue Euni, the challenges resulting from her decisions add up. Can Caroline rescue Euni, and make it back home in time for her tenth birthday party? Read the story behind the story
Illustrated by Chia Americo
“A fantastic adventure story that even an adult would enjoy!”
—Lesley Jones for Readers’ Favorite
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The Adventures of Caroline and Euni: Book one
Book 1: The rainbow frog & the mad scientist
The story behind the story
I’ve read a tremendous amount to my daughters over the years (I miss it, now that they’re reading on their own!)—but have found myself consistently disappointed in children’s books. I don’t shy away from serious lessons in my parenting, but I also don’t appreciate representation or modeling in books that champions attitudes or values that I think could be detrimental (think: Disney princesses). It’s a thin line for a story: be a champion to girls, be a proxy for real life challenges, be respectful, be ambitious, and please please please, be entertaining! (The stories that check off those first few boxes are often my kids’ least favorites, as they quickly lose interest in dull, overt lessons).
So when I became the storyteller to my daughters (see how here [link to post]), I wanted to create a different kind of bedtime story: one that not only entertains, but initiates conversation, reflection, and inflection. One that inspires children to reconsider their narratives, similar to how I approach adults. One that tackles universal themes that unite us all, forming a (gentle) proxy for real world challenges.
The Rainbow Frog and the Mad Scientist is an adventure story about a girl and her pet unicorn. But with the challenges faced along the way for 8-year-old Caroline and her pet unicorn, Euni, it’s really a story about decision making in the face of competing motivations.
It’s a story about courage and perseverance when we make wrong decisions.
It’s a story about family responsibilities and love, even (especially?) when our family members disappoint or frustrate us—or us them.
And in the end, it’s a story about acknowledging challenges such as these to be part of life, but appreciating the blessings we have in front of us—blessings so close we often don’t realize them.
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The Adventures of Caroline and Euni: Book one
Book 2: The witch and the Queen
The story behind the story
I was back deep in my usual contemplative philosophical mode when I sat down to write Book Two of “The Adventures of Caroline and Euni.” Armed with pages of bedtime story characters and narrative arcs provided by my daughter, I once again got swept up in the writing—and something distinctly different immediately erupted.
With my daughters in mind, I decided to go even further on important, universal lessons that, in the form of a bedtime story, would inspire contemplation and conversation. I delved into some major philosophical concepts, and packaged them in an adventurous story full of bizarre creatures, weird mindbenders, and strange magic.
Even more than the first book, young Caroline is faced with tremendous adversity, and has to delve into the depths of her abilities and her self-awareness to overcome them. The concept of wholeness plays a key role (of being true to one’s self), meditation and presence make important cameos, perspective and human understanding is an ongoing lesson, material attachments are questioned—and just like in the first book, familial love and gratitude inspire some major inflection points.
While I never aspired to be a kids’ book writer, the fact is, I love this strange book, and the (admittedly sometimes daunting) concepts in it. And The Witch and the Queen really reflects how I parent: I throw big concepts at my kids, knowing they’ll only absorb a little in the moment—but, like putting on too much lotion, I trust that with enough living and rubbing and reapplication, it’ll eventually make its way in.
To my older daughter’s credit, after she disappeared in her room for an afternoon and read it for the first time, she sheepishly came to me and said: “No offense, Daddy… But I like it so much more than the first book.”
She later admitted that she didn’t have any idea what I was talking about with the “wholeness” storylines—but, she will…
She, upon reading this: “I don’t see how it’s weird… but maybe that’s because I grew up with you.”