Story number 30 is here and it’s a special one for National Family Day 🫶🏽

It’s called:

'Where Am I From?’ Written by Jade Amez.

@whereamifrombook

Illustrated by Meg Rafferty.

Jade Amez’s story is inspired by her adoption journey and the many ways people are connected. She believes it’s important to show children that love and belonging don’t have just one shape - you don’t have to look alike to share a home, a bond, or a story.

Jade:

'Growing up, I rarely saw children’s books that reflected the adoptee experience or mixed families. So, sharing my own story became not only a way to address this societal need but also a deeply personal healing journey. This book is a conversation starter - a way to talk about family, differences, identity, complex emotions and racial sensitivity. I hope my book helps expand the understanding of what ‘family' and ‘home' can truly mean and encourages every reader to feel a sense of belonging’

Her debut book celebrates the beauty of mixed, blended and multi-cultural families, assuring young readers that there is no shame in their unique family structure. Her book gently encourages conversations about cultural diversity and self-discovery, while beautifully illustrating the reality that families are wonderfully diverse. 

Jade's story offers readers the opportunity to cultivate empathy, reflect on their personal narratives, deepen their understanding of adoption, and ultimately embrace their identity - not letting where you're born or where you live define you.

Thank you Jade for writing this emotive story ❤️

Where can you buy this book?

www.whereamifrombook.com

✨ Story number 29 is here, and it’s a noisy one! 🇭🇰✨

It’s called:

Sounds of Hong Kong with Tommy & Lily

Written by Liudmila Rijk Baksheeva

Illustrated by Kitty N. Wong.

This book truly captures the essence of Hong Kong and all the unique daily sounds we hear! From bustling streets to tranquil moments, this book is a celebration of everything that makes, #homekong so special 🥰🇭🇰 My children loved pressing the buttons and smiling at the familiar sounds 😃

It’s perfect for little ones who call this vibrant city home or anyone who wants to share its charm with their loved ones.

Featuring adorable, hand-painted illustrations by the talented Hong Kong artist Kitty N. Wong this book is a feast for both the eyes and ears!

Perfect for young explorers, little hands (it’s a board book) nostalgic souls, and fans of Hong Kong’s unique charm 😃

Liudmila:

“This book holds a special place in my heart, as it was inspired by my children, George and Isabella! Born in Hong Kong, they’ve grown up surrounded by the city's unique sounds. They always loved mimicking these sounds in their own adorable way, and they even call this book the ‘Ga Yao’ book because of its first sound—how cute is that?! 🥰”

Where to purchase?

Liudmila is offering this book for a special promotional price of 150 HKD for all our listeners! Send me a message to get the link🎉

You can also find it at:

📚 Bookazine,

📚 The Lion Rock Press,

📚 Seeds Children’s Bookstore,

🛒 Etsy.

Don’t miss out on this special book that brings Hong Kong’s vibrant culture and sounds to life! 🌟🇭🇰

Story number 22 is here! Continuing on with the last instalment from, “The Adventures of Henry the Field Mouse”. Henry meets a new furry friend on the riverbank who challenges him to a race! Written by Jo Coker. Illustrated by Barbara Richards. Edited and published by Sue Dockstader. I have really enjoyed reading from this series of stories and I hope you’ve enjoyed listening to them 🐭 ☺️   Jo and Sue are continuing to offer to the podcast listeners a 15% discount from their Etsy shop! Use the code: HENRY15 or simply go straight to the following link to receive 15% off: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HenryFieldMouse?coupon=HENRY15   To follow the continuing mother/daughter/granddaughter publishing adventures: www.adventuresofhenryfieldmouse.com @henryfieldmouse You can also head over to https://www.adventuresofhenryfieldmouse.com/storytime for more chapters read by the author, as previously broadcast on Cotswolds Radio, and look for the colouring pages to download for your little adventurers to create their own Henry field mouse! We hope you enjoy this next adventure 😊 🇭🇰 🇬🇧 🐁 Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

I’m back everyone with story number 21! Continuing on with the tales from, “The Adventures of Henry the Field Mouse” I will be reading the excerpt where Henry and his hedgehog friend Bertie stroll around at night and Henry sees something peculiar in the water… Written by Jo Coker. Illustrated by Barbara Richards. Edited and published by Sue Dockstader. Octogenarian author Jo enjoyed another new adventure recently when she was interviewed by her local radio station for their book club show on @Cotswoldsradio- proving again, you are never too old to try something new! And as if that wasn’t enough excitement, Jo’s granddaughter (who the books were originally written for) flew in from Germany to join her Grandma as she shared her stories with little adventurers at the Northleach Heritage Craft Fair last week.   Jo and Sue would like to offer our podcast listeners a 15% discount from their Etsy shop! Use the code: HENRY15 or simply go straight to the following link to receive 15% off: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HenryFieldMouse?coupon=HENRY15   To follow the continuing mother/daughter/granddaughter publishing adventures: www.adventuresofhenryfieldmouse.com @henryfieldmouse We hope you enjoy this next adventure 😊 🇭🇰 🇬🇧 🐁 🦔 Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

Story number 20 is here! (We have reached 20 stories!😱) Our next story tells the tale of an inquisitive field mouse called Henry who has a prickly encounter with Bertie the hedgehog, who is snoring in a compost heap! This story is part of a series written by a grandma wanting to keep in touch with her grandchildren before the days of email and video chat. (You can see the letters she wrote them when you swipe left ⬅️☺️) It’s called: “The Adventures of Henry the Field Mouse” written by Jo Coker. Illustrated by Barbara Richards. Edited and published by Sue Dockstader.   Jo Coker: “When my grandchildren moved to Hong Kong, I wanted them to stay interested in the English countryside, so I started writing stories for them about an imaginary mouse living under my garden shed! Little did I know my daughter would keep my flimsy airmail pages and publish them into a beautifully illustrated book 20 years later- so now little adventurers everywhere can read about the antics of Henry the Field Mouse! Henry meets lots of different animals on his escapades, so I hope that my simple tales of adventure in an English back garden will encourage little ones to pull on their wellies and go outside to explore the countryside. My original stories stretched to two books once the pictures were added, then after being persuaded a trilogy would be nice, I wrote another set of stories at age 85. Working with my daughter (who now lives in the US) to get the third book published was a wonderful way to keep busy and connected during this past awful year of lockdown and isolation.”      To buy the books: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HenryFieldMouse or take trip to the beautiful Cotswolds town of Northleach and pick up a copy at the Post Office or the Black Cat Café.   To follow the continuing mother/daughter/granddaughter publishing adventures: www.adventuresofhenryfieldmouse.com @henryfieldmouse Thank you Sue for getting in touch and I love how we have that HK connection! 🇭🇰 🇬🇧 🐁 🦔 Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

In the U.K. it was an incredibly joyous feeling when the country came together for the Euros. For me, what was even better was experiencing it all from my hometown of Wembley. The home of football. Nothing beats the feeling of unity. Our England football team did us proud. There are some players that are inspirational both on and off the pitch and I have nothing but admiration for them. So it comes with great sadness that after a penalty shoot out in the final game, our three lions were subject to abuse. Abuse not about their football skills but about the colour of their skin. If we had won, the comments on social media would have been celebratory and joyous but it wasn’t. The true feelings of some hateful individuals came out and I won’t call them England fans because they’re not. True England fans felt incredibly let down by the aftermath of this hate and this shameful behaviour needs to stop. Here’s a poem written by Adaeze Obasuyi @rooted_branch that sums up the feelings of last week. Rashford, Sancho and Saka. We stand by you. You did us proud ❤️🙌🏾❤️ This poem is more suited to older children/adult audience.

Story number 18 is here! We are continuing our series of stories from you! The #youngwriter and this week, we have a young girl named Sasha (8 years old) who wrote a story called: “Dog Adopted” 🐶 Sasha: “My name is Sasha, I'm 8 years old and I live in Pinner with my mum, dad and Sister. I enjoy running, reading, and riding my bike! I like dogs and decided to write a story about one!” Thank you Sasha! I’m sure everyone will love your story ☺️ I love the cover art too! @eternalkitchenltd Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

Story number 17 is here ❤️ Sometimes in life, an event occurs that makes you pause and think. To stop. To stop with the swiftness of life and to simply appreciate the everyday joys. To not sweat over the small stuff and to really make you appreciate how short life really is. With this is mind, I felt like it was fate that led me to Chelsey Gomez’s story. Her story is called: “Stickers On Her Bald Head” @ohyouresotough @ohyouresotough_designs Chelsey Gomez: “I have lost my hair twice to chemotherapy and cancer. My daughter was very young while I was battling cancer. I introduced the concept of my soon to be bald head to my daughter with a promise. I promised she could put stickers all over my head after my hair fell out! I hope this story helps other parents talk to their children about cancer and hair loss in a fun way. No scary terms like radiation or chemotherapy - just a gentle and silly story that kids can relate to.” Thank you @ohyouresotough for your bravery and I hope this story helps not just children but adults also. Check out her awesome illustrations too 😍 The book is available to purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B095Q848XS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Subscribe to her YouTube channel 🥰 https://youtube.com/c/ohyouresotough0 Check out her Etsy shop for cancer support gift items: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Ohyouresotough Chelsey had also written a guided journal for adult cancer patients: https://www.amazon.com/Cancer-Hole-Patients-Humorous-Survivors/dp/B08SGZ7S1P/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&qid=1624320469&refinements=p_27%3AChelsey+Gomez&s=books&sr=1-2&text=Chelsey+Gomez https://linktr.ee/Ohyouresotough Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you x

Story number 16 is here! We are continuing our series of stories from you! The #youngwriter and this week, we have a young girl named Flossie (six years old) who wrote a story called: “The Magic Mermaid” Flossie: “My name’s Flossie, I’m 6-years-old and I live in Huddersfield. I love listening to your podcast and I was excited to hear you might like to read one of my stories.  I enjoy going on day-outs with my family, box-modelling and crafts and riding my bike. I love being busy and go to Gymnastics, Swimming and Drama Clubs, and I’m a Rainbow too.     I love reading so I decided to write this story so I could read it to my little sister Frankie. I am going to keep a copy of it in my memory box to look back at when I’m older. I like going to the seaside and I always look out for mermaids. Once I thought I saw a mermaid waving at me (although it might have been an octopus) so I decided to write this story about what might happen if someone actually met one. I think magic is really cool and I imagine that mermaids have some kind of magical powers so I used this idea in my story too.” Mermaids are certainly a popular theme! Thank you Flossie! I’m sure everyone will love your story 😃 🌊🧜‍♀️ @mumawaywithme Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

Story number 15 is here and it’s a bit different to the norm because we have our first guest #youngwriter and podcaster! ❤️💜❤️💜 📖✍️ ❤️💜❤️💜 Introducing the super talented - Eesha (11 years old) 😃 "Hi everyone, it’s Eesha. I am so glad to be on today’s episode of: “Grab Some Sticks”. I wrote the story because I love mythical creatures and I thought that I should write a story about it and how dreams really do come true. Also, please send some pictures of some of your favourite scenes that happen throughout the story” 😃 Thank you Eesha! The beautiful cover art was drawn by her cousin Aarya (six years old) @shrubberiescakehouse 🙂 If you want to have a go writing your own story - send me a message ☺️📖 ✍️ Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂 x

Story number 14 is here! 😃 Our next tale, tells the story of the relationship between a father and his son. This is book is not just for fathers and sons, but for anyone parenting little ones when they get scared at night. It is a great reminder to tell your little ones you will be there to support them. It’s also my first male author on the podcast! It’s called: “I’ll Be Right There” written by Jonathan Marshall @illberighttherebook @jonjmarshall215 Illustrator: Julia Orthey @jswieson Jonathan Marshall: As a father of two boys, one of the greatest joys I have is reading to and with them at night. We have read tons of stories and one thing we did not see in them was...Us. I didn't see many books with fathers, let alone fathers of colour. I did see many stories with little girls of colour and I did not see many stories with black boys. My boys and I always made up stories together, and I figured, why not share some of these stories? Why not share experiences from a fathers standpoint? Why not show my children that they can be represented in the books they read. I knew I was not the only dad/ parent feeling this way...and here we are. Jonathan Marshall is a poet and writer. He has spent the last decade and a half working with youth from various backgrounds. He works full-time as an Academic Outreach Manager at Eastern University, where he studied Early Childhood Education. To buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Ill-Right-There-Jonathan-Marshall/dp/1699292450 Also at @barnesandnoble Facebook -I'll Be Right There Book I hope you all like it 😃 x Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

Story number 13 is here! My next story is one, that builds on the imagination and ambitions of young children and shows them that they can be anything they put their mind to! It’s called: “I Dream” written by Nicole Kraiem @ngkraiem Illustrator: Georgiana Grigoras Editor: Joseph Kraiem Nicole Kraiem: ‘I Dream’ is a story that combines poetry, positive imagery, rhythmic language, and reaffirming manifestations. Its purpose is to build on the imagination and ambition of young children. Join our wonderful character as she inspires your children to realise that they can be anything they put their minds to. Dream big, everyone! Your Dreams are only the beginning. It’s available to buy on both Amazon America and UK with a search of “I Dream”N.G.Kraiem. Also: https://www.ngkraiembooks.com in the store. For US customers, it’s also available to buy from Target’s online site: https://www.target.com/p/i-dream-by-n-g-kraiem-paperback/-/A-82818521#lnk=sametab Also Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/I-Dream-Paperback-9781098367947/635882987 I hope everyone who listens to this - dreams big! Thank you Nicole ☺️ I hope you all enjoy it ❤️ 💭 ❤️ Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

A new story episode is on the podcast and this one is close to home 😃 🇭🇰 

Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, is a vibrant celebration observed by millions of people around the world. In this episode, we explore the traditions, stories, and joy surrounding this special festival. You may be lucky enough to witness a lion dance or share a delicious meal with loved ones to mark the occasion. 

This year, we welcome the Year of the Snake!  People born in the Year of the Snake can be very charming, making friends easily with their warm personality. They often listen well and can understand how others feel. The Year of the Snake can be a time for adventures, where you might learn new things and discover hidden talents, just like a snake exploring its surroundings!

Perfect for schools or for teaching your children about the festival, this episode dives into the meaning behind Chinese New Year and how it’s celebrated.

If you celebrate - what does Chinese New Year mean to you?

“Let go of the old, welcome the new, start a new journey, and continue to work hard to complete it.”

“CNY is a time to meet up with the family and enjoy welcoming the new year together through lots of celebrations that include fireworks.”

“Chinese New Years means the best time of reunion with family and friends. Many people spend their good time to celebrate with each other, and hope everybody will have good fortune, healthy and prosperous year ahead!”

A special thank you to Colby for the cover art! Sending love from our family to yours, wherever you are in the world. 

Happy New Year/Kung Hei Fat Choi!

🧧🐍🎉

Here are ways to say "Happy Chinese New Year" in different languages:

Mandarin Chinese:  

新年快乐 (Xīn Nián Kuài Lè)

恭喜发财 (Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái)

Wishing you prosperity and wealth"  

Cantonese:  

新年快樂 (San Nin Fai Lok)– "Happy New Year"  

恭喜發財 (Gung Hei Fat Choi)

"Wishing you prosperity and wealth"  

Korean:  

새해 복 많이 받으세요 

(Saehae Bok Mani Badeuseyo)

"Wishing you lots of luck in the New Year"  

Vietnamese:  

Chúc Mừng Năm Mới

“Happy New Year"  

Cung Chúc Tân Xuân

“Gracious wishes for the new spring"  

Japanese:  

明けましておめでとうございます (Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu)

"Happy New Year"  

Thai:  

- **สวัสดีปีใหม่จีน (Sawasdee Pee Mai Jeen)** – "Happy Chinese New Year"  

Malay:  

Selamat Tahun Baru Cina

“Happy Chinese New Year"  

Tagalog (Filipino):  

Maligayang Bagong Taon

“Happy New Year"  

Indonesian:  

Selamat Tahun Baru Imlek

“Happy Lunar New Year"  

This list highlights the diversity of greetings across cultures and languages while celebrating the joy of Chinese New Year! 🎉🧧

Story number 12 is here! 😃 My next story is about a young, intelligent and creative girl called Chika. She is of Nigerian origin but born in the U.K. The story is part of series of books about her life experiences, interactions with family, nature, friends and belief systems. Chika writes beautiful poems at night before she goes to sleep, expressing her feelings and the lessons she has learnt from the day. It’s called: ‘Fast Chika' written by Adaeze Obasuyi @rooted_branch Illustrated by: Mide Akindeko @midedeko & Nendunu Shanding @sk_jenx I have combined elements of ‘Fine Chika’ for this podcast episode. Chika speedily wins different games and gets frustrated when her brother finally wins because he was slower than her. This book helps children to appreciate fun over competition. It is a childlike way to teach equality in diversity. It has a Jollof Rice recipe at the end (I still need to try this!) and footnotes with meanings to the African words mentioned. Adaeze Obasuyi: The inspiration behind ‘Fast Chika’ was seeing how different my kids were and sometimes how my older daughter boast about how fast she is. Sometimes she would say: "I was first" or "I finished first," "I got here first". The funny thing is, adults go through similar things as we try to navigate through life. So my hope is that this story will help parents teach their children equality is diversity. Everyone is different. I particulatly hoped that someone with a disability will also find this story empowering. The description of Chika is also meant to emphasise on a different kind of beauty. Her eyes are: "brown" and her hair is: "coily”. Some Black people of African origin do not even know that their hair texture is coily. You hear descriptions like: "weaker curls". I just wanted to add a different narrative to the stories we read. Thank you Adaeze. I’m sure our listeners will enjoy hearing all about Chika and the lesson she learns along the way ☺️ It is available for free and to buy on Amazon Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fast-Chika-Adaeze-Obasuyi-ebook/dp/B091SMKJ1T/ref=pd_aw_sim_1/260-4295245-7345855?pd_rd_w=CtFoN&pf_rd_p=4e3c856b-026b-4f5b-ae67-d6848fb451ab&pf_rd_r=FV0VS5W7JJJE6MP9JZYG&pd_rd_r=0fe8e17f-d9e4-4b8d-ba35-3a4a706e434a&pd_rd_wg=P54tz&pd_rd_i=B091SMKJ1T&psc=1 Adaeze has also written some lovely weather poems: https://linktr.ee/Rootedbranch I hope you all enjoy it ☺️ 🇳🇬 💨 Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

Episode number eleven is here! 😃 The next podcast episode is something that we can all relate to. Every person from across the globe has had their lives affected by Covid-19. Kat Arksey (@two_moons_bookclub) has written this heart warming poem, from a child’s perspective. To reflect on this last year, the lockdowns and hope for the future that things will get better soon. It’s called: ‘Clap For Kids’ by Kat Arksey @two_moons_bookclub Kat Arksey: I wrote this short children’s book ‘Clap for Kids’ to recognise all that our children have been through. It’s a hopeful poem that acknowledges our struggles and gives praise and recognition to children and their experiences in these difficult times.  I hope it helps some children process their experiences, heal and move forward. Especially after the tough time they’ve had.  £1 of every sale will be donated to the BLURT FOUNDATION PEER PROJECT. A ground-breaking peer-led project focused on improving the mental health of young people aged 4-24, equipping them with essential tools to ultimately achieve happier, healthier and fulfilled lives. www.blurtitout.org Clap for Kids is available on Amazon. Clap for Kids: Thank you to all the super hero kids of Covid-19. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B091R1ZFGG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_FS0DRENE3SK5A7EATVQC Kat Arksey has self-published two children’s books, When Harry Stayed Home and Clap for Kids. She wrote both books during the Covid-19 lockdown to help her children understand the situation. Kat has appeared on BBC Radio Humberside to talk about her children’s books. She lives in Hull, UK, and has worked with children and families for over 10 years. @two_moons_bookclub Thank you Kat for this heartwarming poem about resilience and strength ❤️ I hope you all enjoy it ☺️ 🦸‍♂️ 🌈🦸 👏🏾 👏🏻👏🏿👏🏽👏🏼👏 Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂 x

A bonus poem for you celebrating the festival of Eid! 🌙☺️ The wonderful Aiza drew the beautiful cover picture 😊 Eid Mubarak to all those celebrating 😃🌙 ❤️ Written by me @grabsomesticks Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂 x

Story number ten is here! 😃 Over the last few weeks, we have been on a few different adventures. The journey continues with our next story, however this time it looks at and teaches children how to emotionally cope with relocation. It’s about a young boy called Axel who lives in the USA. Although he loves new adventures, he struggles with leaving his friends, family and everything he knows behind. He has to adapt quickly to a different culture and make the best out a new situation, far away from home. While this book features a military child, the message of resilience and hope are universal themes that will hopefully help all children to overcome obstacles more easily. It’s called: I Move A Lot And That’s Okay! Axel’s Story. Written by @amazinglyshermaine I’m reading an abridged version for the podcast and some of the themes in the story may be more suitable for older children. Shermaine Perry-Knights: I wrote the book that I wish I had as a military child moving a lot. Moving is the path to unlocking new adventures and noteworthy experiences for military families. I learned so much along my travels and I wanted to share it. This book teaches hope and resilience during those tough times. Relocation is a whirlwind of an activity for a child. There are extreme highs and lows of emotional, mental, social and physical change. Many struggle to leave everything and everyone behind and to start over in a new place. We must honour them during the whole journey and in literature. How do you hope teachers use your book? This is a timely resource for social and emotional learning. Use it to discuss: 1. Grief over missing family and friends. 2. Anxiety over moving homes and changing schools. 3. Loneliness and loss of routine. 4. ...and increase empathy. My hope is that this book becomes a conversation tool with your kids before moving. Validating their experiences, feelings and thoughts. Thank you Shermaine for sharing this wonderful journey of you and your family 🌎 🥰 It is available for free on Amazon Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/I-Move-Lot-Thats-Okay-ebook/dp/B08L88C75Y/    https://www.amazon.com/Move-Lot-Thats-Okay-Axels/dp/1953518117/ Here is an article highlighting how this book is a resource for K-5 instruction:  https://www.kellysclassroomonline.com/2020/11/i-move-a-lot.html  Military Families Magazine featured I Move A Lot and That's Okay. Here's a link to the article.  I hope this story sparks some lovely conversations with the children ❤️ Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂 x

Story number nine is here 😃 Our next story, takes a mango tree as the central character who wants to feel loved. Instead of sharing its juicy mangoes, they keep it for beauty and vanity. Marghali Vuthpala: “People think that beauty is everything. They believe this strongly in their mind. Our future children shouldn't think in this way so its important to tell them in the form of stories so that they can understand this in their mind. Beauty is not everything. Helping others is itself the beauty of ones life” Collaborating once again with the lovely Marghali @swetchastories I give you: ‘The Selfish Tree’ Podcast version edited by me @grabsomesticks I hope you like it ☺️🌲🥭 Like/subscribe/review Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂 x

Story number eight is here 😃 Our adventure continues as our next story takes us to Kingston, Jamaica! It features Kalila, a strong-willed five year old girl who loves reading books, signs and even maps. Based on the Hope Zoo, who are passionate about wildlife conservation and protecting the native wildlife. Kalila and her classmates are excited about their next trip! 🇯🇲 It’s called: “Kingston Zooventure” Written by Ronique Holgate @Ron.i.que for her daughters Kalila and Kairah and illustrated by Liliana Gareva @Lilianareyn  Ronique Holgate: As an educator and parent, reading has always been of paramount importance to me. However, in my quest to diversify our bookshelf, it became obvious that black children didn't often see themselves in books and even more specifically Jamaican children didn't see themselves in books depicting environments that they were familiar with. So, coupled with that fact and the need to highlight the joy of adventure along with the importance of being able to read, Kingston Zooventure was born.  My inspiration came from my firstborn, Kalila, who was reading at 4 years old. It is my hope that parents and children alike will see the benefits of reading and that children of colour will feel a sense of value in seeing themselves in books. Ronique, you should feel very proud and I’m sure your daughters feel proud of you too ☺️❤️ I hope you enjoy this adventure! 🇯🇲 🦁 🗺 To buy the book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kingston-Zooventure-Ronique-Holgate/dp/B08F6Y51WL/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Kingston+zooventure&qid=1618786672&sr=8-1 Books available locally at Kozy Korner Books N More @kozykornerbooksja Shop 3, Vision Plaza, 3A, 10 Central Ave, Kingston as well as on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.Amazon.ca  Also available directly through @Ron.i.que Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

Story number seven is here! 😃 The next story is part of a series of books where two sisters learn about their diverse heritage through adventure! It’s called: “What Makes Our Family Special” and I’m reading the Guyana story 😃 🇬🇾 Written by the lovely Danielle Clarke @bluestellabooks for her daughters Evie & Isla and beautifully illustrated by Lily Carver @liustrationz Danielle Clarke: 2020 was a year that will go down in history! One that will never be forgotten! 
Me pre-2020: I knew all the ‘ism’s’ still existed. I’m not all-knowing but not totally ignorant either. But for me I felt lucky. I felt that the people around me were lucky too! We are a family and have a circle of friends of mixed cultures and heritages who love each other. Who we are as a unit is our norm. To introduce us: Jon is Bajan/Guyanese and I am White/Irish. Evie and Isla are a beautiful mix of us both.

This is the beginning…
Jon and I had an instant connection, spark, electricity, whatever you want to call it. We had similar views, goals and ambitions. We were and are pretty much on the same page. We decided to have a child. Evie. And then Isla came as a beautiful surprise. Jon also has a daughter from a previous relationship, Ruby.   Our main thoughts on raising the girls were to teach them to always be kind, well-mannered, happy, have a great work ethic, love who they are, to always find a solution, and to be positive and proactive. For me, this is the aim for our future generations. Never taking away from their heritage and the part that plays in their identity. These characteristics are the overriding factors of how they are perceived by the world and not by the colour of their skin. I never thought about how society would treat them being female and of dual heritage. I always thought because of the love of our family and friends, how multicultural we all are and how multi-cultural London is. I ignorantly didn’t think they would be looked upon in any negative way! An idea started to form around the end of August 2020. What if I wrote books that taught not only Evie and Isla, but other children about the different heritages and cultures of our beautifully blended family and of the world? Then I just started to write. There is a major lack of diverse books and so many self-publishers are starting to write diverse books that need to be on book shelves, in libraries, schools and in nurseries.   In order to create true equality and diversity, all races and cultures need to be represented, not only through peers and people in their communities but in the books they read, the toys they play with and who they get to see as role models. This generation of children can make a real difference in the role racism plays in the future and the more they experience equality through diversity, the stronger this change can be. The lead characters, Evie and Isla, will be familiar and relatable to other children of mixed raced heritage. It is also a great opportunity for children of other cultures to experience diversity. It educates children on another part of the world - taking it from the unknown to a celebration of an exciting and beautiful country.

I want Evie and Isla to always be proud of who they are and the amazing family they are part of. We want equality in every aspect of the word, and we are proud to make a small contribution to help move towards this.    I hope this story sparks some lovely conversations with the children. Are you ready to go on an adventure? 😃🦦🇬🇾 Thank you Danielle for sharing this wonderful journey of you and your family 🌎 🥰 Where to buy books: www.bluestella.co.uk £6.99 each  @bluestellabooks

Story number six is here ❤️ My next story was written and illustrated by Nicola Bedenham @miss_nb2020 for her brother Christopher. I first met Nicola through my cousin Divya @houseinthesouth7 back in 2017. Here we are in 2021 and I have the absolute privilege of reading her inspiring story: “I Am Fabulous” “I Am Fabulous” is a heartfelt story inspired by the author’s transgender brother, who is on the Autistic spectrum and their childhood growing up. Nicola Bedenham: “It has been a very long journey, to turn what seemed like an impossible situation into a positive one” “It all started with the painting that features in the book. I made it originally as a way of reaching out to my brother when he became homeless and would not communicate verbally. I thought by making a piece of positive celebratory artwork for him, it would evoke a feeling of love and connection and he would make contact again. I made flyers with the image of the painting and distributed them around the area in London that he had been sighted. Thankfully, he was found and now lives with our parents.” “A few years later, the idea for the story popped into my head. I then decided to make a book for him so he could remember all the positive things from our childhood and our experiences together. Everything in the book had to be recognisable and familiar to him due to his Autism.” “It took about three years to draw all the illustrations and write and rewrite the story. My daughter, Holly @hollydeimbacher then designed the book and made it look beautiful” I hope this book resonates with anyone who is a creative free spirit and encourages you to believe in yourself, celebrating who you are through the power of art.” Nicola Bedenham is an art teacher and worked throughout the pandemic supporting key worker children. She also set online art projects for the whole school do to at home. Nicola, you should certainly feel proud and you truly are an inspiration. I am sure you are all going to enjoy this simply fabulous story ⭐️ 🌈 To buy the book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/fabulous-Miss-Nicola-Louise-Bedenham/dp/B08CPG3B15 Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂 x

The fifth story episode is here! 😃 The lovely Marghali contacted me with her children’s story blog that she has recently launched @swetchastories ☺️ This story is about Holi, which is the Hindu festival of colours. The festival is celebrated for two to three days in the spring. Part of the Holi story is that Hindus believe that spring is full of colours so they throw coloured water on each other! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 Even though Holi is over, I couldn’t resist this sweet story about an owl wanting to join in with the festival. It’s a real treat from all of Mother Nature’s members ☺️🌲🌻 🌹 🍇 From Hyderabad India, Marghali left working for a software company to write children stories full-time: “From my childhood onwards, I used to read many stories. I don't know when stories became part of my life. I became a software employee but somewhere in my heart, there was always a space for stories. Later, I was blessed with a baby girl and she became my whole life. The time came where I had to join back to my work. But then this time, I thought to choose the profession which interested me a lot. I quit my job and started writing stories and became a full-time author. All the stories from my childhood became my inspiration” Go to Marghali's blog to check out more of her children’s stories: https://www.swetchastories.com/?m=1 The podcast story version is edited by me @grabsomesticks If you’re an aspiring writer then please do get in touch. I would love to read your story ❤️📖 I hope you like it 😃 x Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂 x

Happy Easter everyone! 🐣 🐥 Hitting you with a bonus Easter/Spring poem today! 🐇🥕🌲🪵 🍃 🐇🥕 I hope you enjoy it 😃 My niece Siara drew the cover art 🖼 ☺️ Written by me @grabsomesticks Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂 x

Story number is here and it’s a festive one 🥰 🎅 ☃️ 🎄 🤶 🛷 

This delightful tale illuminates the beauty of spreading happiness and love during the holiday season 🥰

It’s called, Jordan’s Happiest Christmas. 

Written by Sanduni Lankadari Mendis

@Sanduni_lankadari_mendis

@dreaming_panda_publications 

Illustrated by Sandamini Dissanayake 

@dinu_illustrator 

Sanduni: 

“As you all know, Christmas is the perfect time to reach out to others to spread joy and bring peace. This story will give an essence of true happiness to the little readers. They will understand that Christmas is not just about receiving gifts but also about being there for someone.

They will understand that this feeling is not just a mere feeling but a deep fulfilling feeling which keeps your heart truly at peace.

I wanted to communicate the true meaning of Christmas to the kids, not by big deep words, but by colourful illustrations and a beautiful simple story of little jordan's curious question to her dadda, "What makes you truly happy?"

The inspiration behind this project came from realising how Christmas has gradually turned into a commercialised event, overshadowing its true meaning. In today’s busy and business-driven world, the essence of this beautiful season seems to be lost. I felt the need to bring back its true spirit by starting with little minds, as they are more open and moldable than adults. 

My hope is that, through this, they will grow to embrace and cherish the true meaning of Christmas amidst the chaos of modern busy life.”

Thank you Sanduni and we hope you all truly enjoy this magical story of the true meaning of Christmas ☺️🎄

Where to buy the book:

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Jordans-Happiest-Christmas-Sanduni-Mendis-ebook/dp/B0CS5F6NZ6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lMd04HXRZ3rINO8hGngovQ.Y7Bvzhn6dMTPFLn_R_24ieD22aIsAWEwymFOFcFvpkI&dib_tag=se&qid=1733405137&refinements=p_27%3ASandamini+Dissanayake&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Sandamini+Dissanayake

Free on Kindleunlimited  😃

In Sri Lanka:

~ Sarasavi Bookshop (Pvt) Ltd 

~ M.D. Gunasena 

~ Vijitha Yapa Bookshop (Pvt) Ltd. 

~ Expographic Books 

~ Vaishi 

~ The Jam Fruit Tree Publications

~ True store

Also on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/dreamingpandapublications?mibextid=ZbWKwLhttps://www.instagram.com/dreaming_panda_publications/profilecard/?igsh=czUxcWV6cHZ0dGZp

Merry Christmas everyone!

The fourth episode is here 😃 My next story, is a tale of allergies, feelings, friendship and always looking on the bright side of life ☺️💙 It’s called; “Luca...The Lion Who Couldn’t Eat Meat” Written by Tersha Cutmore @tershas_tales and illustrated by Victoria Ward-Fowler @victoria_and_mylovebubble When Luca starts school, he begins to struggle with his feelings as he watches his friends eat and drink things that he can’t. His friends help him see that he is not the only one and encourages him to focus on the bright side of life. Tersha Cutmore wrote this story inspired by her own son Luca, his allergies and their experiences as a family. This story is not only for allergy sufferers but for any child who feels different, whatever the reason. To get your own copy visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Luca-Lion-Who-Couldnt-Meat/dp/B08H573VM1 Thank you Tersha for getting in touch ☺️ I hope you enjoy this one 🙂🦁 🐵🐱📖 x Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, send to:grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂 x

The third episode is here 😃 The next story is called; “Chickens Can’t See In The Dark” written and illustrated by the talented Kristyna Litten @kristynalitten This is a quirky tale of curiosity, clues, carrots and a chicken who dares to be different! To get your own copy visit: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/KristynaLitten Published by Oxford University Press. Thank you so @kristynalitten for allowing me to share this story ☺️ I hope you enjoy this one 🤩 🐓 👓 🥕 ⭐️ 📖 x Like and subscribe and if you enjoyed the story - leave a review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Email: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you ❤️ ☺️📖 ❤️x

The second episode is here 😃 This next story is called; “I Once Had A Chimpanzee” written by Sir Roy Cameron and illustrated by Jessica Stafford Cameron @jessicastaffordcamerondesigns Fun fact: Sir Roy and Jessica are father-in-law and daughter-in-law! The story was originally written for Sir Roy’s grandchildren and it takes us to a world where we can dream about having our own pet - but not just any pet 😃🦛🦒🐘 To get your own copy visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Once-Had-Chimpanzee-Sir-Cameron/dp/1910651001 For those of you who live in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 it’s available to buy @janetandjohnscotland and @quirqglasgow in the West End of Glasgow. Thank you so much @jessicastaffordcamerondesigns for allowing me to share this story ☺️ I hope you enjoy this one 😃🦛🦒🐘 📖 Like and subscribe and if you enjoyed the story - leave a review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Email: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂 x

Hello everyone and welcome to the first episode on my story podcast! There could be nothing more fitting than to kickstart my podcast with Esther Marshall’s powerful and uplifting story; Sophie Says, I Can. I Will. A story of empowerment that tackles stereotypes head on by representing diverse and incredible women in a whole host of roles. The author, Esther Marshall, is also the founder of sTandTall, a community platform and educational resource to help those suffering from abuse and bullying to get the support, help and information they need. To get a copy of the book visit: https://www.sophiesaysofficial.com/products/sophie-says-i-can-i-will-childrens-book Instagram: @sophiesaysofficial Book: Sophie Says, I Can. I Will. Illustrator: Buzz Burry I hope you enjoy it :) Like and subscribe and if you enjoyed the story - leave a review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Email: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂 x

A new story episode is on the podcast and this one shines brightly 🎇😍

Diwali for me represents so many elements. From visiting family and friends and eating some sort of nasto (Indian snacks), going to the mandir (sometimes three!) preparing the tray of sweet treats for guests to have (Smarties galore), homes being filled with delicious delicacies such as my mum’s homemade chakri (spiral shaped snacks) and the night sky being filled with fireworks! 🎆 

This episode can be used in schools or simply teaching your own children about the festival. 

Recommended age category - 5+ (discretion advised for young children) 

Sending love from our family to yours!

Wherever you are in the world - we hope the light of Diwali shines in your heart all year round 🪔 🎆🎇🌅

🎇🪔Happy Diwali everyone! 🪔🎇

🎇✨Happy New year!✨🎇

🎇✨Sal Mubarak✨🎇

🎇✨Nutan Varshabhinandan ✨🎇

If you celebrate - what does Diwali mean to you?

Thank you to my niece Sisi for the cover art 😍

A new story episode is here and it’s very green ☘️ 😃 💚 This episode is all about the patron saint of Ireland - St Patrick.  I have learnt some new facts and I hope you do too! To all those celebrating: Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh! Happy St Patrick's Day! ☘️ Thank  you to all of my Irish friends for helping me with this episode! Thank you to Niamh and Tara for the cover art 😃🎨 ☘️ *Some listeners discretion to be advised* Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy  Facebook: @grabsomesticks  For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com  Thank you 🙂

Story number 26 is here! This next story is about a young girl named Joy. She experiences something negative in her life but through learning EFT (the Emotional Freedom Technique) she finds happiness again.  The story is called: The Magic Within You Written by: Alessandra Amico-Jones @alessandra_amicojones  Illustrated by Febriyana Fadillah  What is EFT?  EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Technique and it is also known as tapping because of the tapping motion of the fingers on the different spots. EFT is based on the ancient Chinese practice of Acupuncture but instead of sticking needles in our body, we simply tap with our fingertips. It focuses on tapping the 12 meridian points of the body to relieve symptoms of a negative experience or emotion. Alessandra's journey: “My journey started involuntarily 23 years ago, when at the age of 16, I suddenly lost my mother in a car accident. That day, my life changed and all of a sudden, I had to become an adult. I had to learn to deal with my pain and on top of that I had to go to school, look after my dad and my younger brother, doing the cooking, washing, cleaning etc… With the support of friends and family, I carried on living a vaguely normal life and when I was 20 years old, I decided to move to the UK, but the pain of the grief was always with me, it never left… the tears were always ready to come out at the drop of a hat, as soon as someone mentioned their mother or my mother…Things changed 3 years ago when I started doing some very deep emotional work on myself (I was studying to become a coach) and I came across this technique called EFT Tapping. I got offered an EFT session and I took it. I had not expectations, no real background knowledge, nothing at all. That session changed my life…The Practitioner worked with me on the trauma of suddenly loosing my mother in a car accident. I cried so much… but after that session, I was able to see things more clearly… the pain of the grief was gone and I was left with all the love I had (and still have) for her. I was absolutely shocked by the profound changes in me and I decided to study this technique so that I could pass on that gift of healing to others too…that is exactly what I did. I studied EFT for 3 years and I got myself 2 qualifications (my second one was with the EFT International), which to this day make me a Fully Accredited and Certified EFT Practitioner. Since discovering EFT I have used it pretty much every day, on myself and on my family (my husband and my 2 sons) and we all enjoy the benefits of it. EFT has become our “Secret Power” that helps us rebalance our emotions and our stress levels when life throws us a curveball… and this is valid for us grown ups (mum and dad) and for the little ones (our 5 and 9 year old children) as well! I wrote, "The Magic within You” so that every family in the world can learn this amazing technique (EFT Tapping) and so that the younger generations can be give the tools to start taking ownership of their feelings and emotions, making them more relaxed children and more resilient and empowered adults” Alessandra, thank you so much for sharing your journey and for helping others learn the power of EFT. I hope this story and this method helps you and your family unlock the secret power within you! Let us know if you try this technique and how you feel afterwards. The publication of this podcast episode comes in line with Parent Mental Health Day (January 27th). Should you wish to find our more about how EFT Tapping can help you and your family, please visit Alessandra’s website: ⁠https://alessandra-amico-jones-eft.square.site/⁠ To learn how to practice this method: https://www.instagram.com/tv/C2HntR_Ah5i/?igsh=MXJ6Y282NmNiZTdobw== Available to buy on Amazon: ⁠ https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BB5S5D6S Instagram: ⁠https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy⁠ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063972793171

After a long time I can finally say that, story number 25 is here! Just in time for Christmas 🎄😃 This story is about a relentless Goose named Suzy who wants to top her Christmas tree with a star from the sky. No one can stop her from trying every possible way to get it! A tale of determination and a touch of seasonal magic ✨ Suzy Goose and the Christmas Star 🪿 🌟 Written and illustrated by the one and only Petr Horáček. Thank you Petr Horacek and Walker Books Limited for this wonderful Christmas story 💫 🧿 🎄🪿 What inspired you to write this story? "Suzy Goose and the Christmas Star is the third book in the series. The first one is called; Silly Suzy Goose. It’s just a Christmas story although I did write it in the summer walking on the Somerset’s moor. The place where my mother-in-law lives and where we usually spend Christmas” Ten things you didn’t know about Petr Horáček: 1. I love children's drawings. 2. I love looking at the sky. 3. I love walking in woods and picking mushrooms. 4. I love snow and I know how to ski. 5. I love cakes (any cakes!) and vanilla ice cream (or any other ice cream!). 6. I love playing tennis. 7. I love watching people walking their dogs. 8. I love music – from the very old to the very loud and rattley. 9. I love listening to the radio. 10. I can't spell. (It's rather embarrassing.) (Cited from https://www.walker.co.uk/contributors/Petr-Horácek-4457.aspx) www.petrhoracek.co.uk www.walker.co.uk @p.horacek_ @walkerbooksuk Subscribe to his YouTube channel: Petr Horacek To buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Suzy-Goose-Christmas-Star-Horcek/dp/1406326216 Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas 😃 Send me some of your Christmas pictures: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com🎄💚 @grabsomesticks Instagram: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063972793171

I’m back with story number 24! This story was written by Evelyn who is nine years old and lives in New York. She likes Roblox, to read books and play with slime. The reason why she wrote this story is because she likes dogs and wants to keep them safe 😊 🐶 🐩 🐕 The story is called: Millie - The Lost Dog Thank you Evelyn and I am sure everyone will love your story 😃 #youngwriter Like/subscribe/review ☺️ Instagram page: https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos, Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

Story number 23 is here!Collaborating once again with the talented and inspiring Nicole Kraiem who brings us her second story, “The Bubble King” @ngkraiem Written by N.G. Kraiem and Illustrated by Georgiana Grigoras Edited by Joseph Kraiem Nicole Kraiem:‘The character illustration is based on my youngest son, who's nickname is Bear. I had written this story when I was pregnant with him six years ago. My husband, who is in the military, had been humming a tune he heard earlier, which sparked the rhythm of the book, while my daughter was playing with bubbles. Since I was currently pregnant with a boy, I decided to make the character a boy also. The original name of the character was Jasper but after creating the character of “I Dream” off of my daughter's likeness, my son asked if I could make a character that looks like him too, sparking the changes with the name and likeness you see today in the book. What I've learned from spending time with children, especially my own is that representation truly matters. Every child wants to see someone like them featured in books. In respect to what I am currently working on now, I am at the end process of solidifying the illustrations for my first book series, “The Adventures of Gillie The Incredible.” It follows a rambunctious little boy who always gets into mischief as he tries to learn and navigate what it means to be a little human in the world and yes, almost everything the character does has been based off of something one of my four have done at that age, including making a "master cheese sandwich," which the character does. There is a moral, or rather a learning point in every Gillie book, which I hope will teach children, in the same way that social play does. Along with the Gillie series, I am in the process of starting the storyboard for my children's story, “Selma's Song” which follows a young girl, as she tries to go through the grieving process, after losing her grandmother. Lastly, I am two-thirds through writing my first adult novel, which follows a couple as they navigate life and mental health issues as an interracial couple and military family”Sounds wonderful Nicole! We can’t wait for your future publications and we hope you enjoy this beautiful story with the boy with the curly auburn hair ☺️#representationtrulymattersTo buy the book:https://www.amazon.com/Bubble-King-N-G-Kraiem/dp/1639015876/ref=sr_1_2?crid=11NOKMXUSOFSC&dchild=1&keywords=the+bubble+king+n.g+kraiem&qid=1630506743&sprefix=the+bubble+king%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-2&fbclid=IwAR2dO3Y41uta5yVC3Uo-SokHl0snRyqWWmKIiS24bJJwLSiOPGW3c2BFR3sThank you once again Nicole!❤️🖤🤎❤️🖤🤎Like/subscribe/review ☺️Instagram page:https://instagram.com/grabsomesticks?igshid=gcvsbmv1h4dy Facebook: @grabsomesticks For messages, drawings and videos,Send to: grabsomesticks@hotmail.com Thank you 🙂

I’m excited to share a brand-new story all about the Mid-Autumn Festival!🏮🐇🍂

When I first moved to Hong Kong eight years ago, the Mid-Autumn Festival was completely new to me. Over the years, I’ve learnt about its beauty and meaning, and now I’m so excited to share that wonder with you! If this festival is new to you, I hope this story helps you discover something special. And if it’s already a tradition you celebrate, may it feel like a comforting reminder of your own memories and traditions 🥰

A very special thank you to all the children who shared their incredible artwork! 🎨💛 Your creativity brings the Mid-Autumn Festival to life! Thank you to Colby for the cover art! I taught Colby when he was only four years old 🥹

Let’s journey into the magic of the Mid-Autumn Festival together 😃🌕✨

@grabsomesticks

Story number 32 is here!

It’s called: 'Amazing Algorithms All Around You!’

Written by Shradha Shah and illustrated by Shailly Gajjar

This story takes you on a journey through the hidden patterns that guide our everyday lives. From the order we get ready in the morning, to the steps a chef follows in a busy kitchen - algorithms are working behind the scenes, helping the world run smoothly.

Shradha Shah:

“As a software engineer with over fifteen years of experience and more importantly, a mum of two. I wrote this book because of a moment that changed everything. During the pandemic, my young boys would watch me coding all day and ask, "What do you do, Mum?” I wanted to answer them in a way that didn’t require screens or apps-just the simplicity of our daily life and the quiet magic of bedtime stories. I realised that our everyday routines already reflect the fundamentals of coding. So I started breaking down those, “big tech words” into something their little minds already understood. This story focuses on one powerful concept: Algorithms. By using relatable examples from your child’s daily life, this book gives them a gentle, screen-free introduction to how coding really works. It’s not just a story, it’s a foundation, helping them build confidence, curiosity and readiness for the digital future. I hope this brings you the same joy it brought our home and helps you see that you don’t need to be a tech expert to raise one”.

Thank you Shradha! It’s the perfect blend of imagination and learning - ideal for curious kids, young thinkers, and families who love exploring how things work!

To buy this book:

https://codermumslife.com

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1068497300/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_7SV7CECKVHV5PHPJQJPH?linkCode=ml1&tag=codermumslife-20&linkId=e70d4cd35c6b18f97c340f512d479ba9&fbclid=PAVERFWAPV1GpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAafw2IZAz1-bh7R8NYbimBLXw_1aqjjJ7Zc3fQtNm2tc9trVVKF3WVRR0k9Ofw_aem_2dum0ds0tVVlaQ-vypuevQ

Available to listen on Apple Podcasts also.

Thank you for listening and supporting the story podcast - every play, share, and message means the world! 💛

#grabsomesticks