Why Struggles?

Years ago I began to write my Struggles the Bear series. I was inspired by the real life “Struggles” I had living in my household. As a teacher and a school librarian I was and still am heavily influenced by the Maker movement. The Maker movement is the idea that people process skills into long term memory by making things. The process of creation, or bringing something into being helps make abstract thoughts concrete. For example: telling a child that 4 + 5 = 9 is one thing, but giving the same child 4 grapes and then 5 grapes helps bring the concept of addition home.

When I had the time to work on my drafts and bring them to life my librarian side warred with my teacher side. I loved the concept of a story book that dealt with growth and positive family images. However, I knew that my students became still and more reflective when they colored as part of my library’s Maker Space. I then had th idea to make my stories coloring books and that is how the Struggles the bear series came into being.

I loved to read aloud to my students especially the older kids. No one is ever to old for a story. That is why I strive to have a read aloud linked into the back of every story I publish. I hope that Struggle the Bear, Upcycle Annie, and Lavinda the Librarian pages create many opportunities for coloring meditation, collective activities, and reflections on life lessons. I especially hope that you get to experience the power of the crayon. I do everyday.