Extending a big, warm welcome to a new dig sponsor: Award-winning children’s book author Maria Dismondy!
Maria’s mission is to inspire and empower children. This is her favorite quote (and is now one of mine too):
I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.
– Edward Everett Hale
Maria recently resigned from her teaching job of twelve years. It was a huge risk, but traveling to schools and empowering children to be themselves is what she feels she was meant to do. Oh I admire that kind of bravery. In March last year, she spoke to more than 10,000 students. Although her job as a writer looks very different from teaching first grade (she writes while her girls nap and often Skypes with aspiring writers and students from her kitchen table) she is comforted in knowing she is making her mark in the world while being home with her children. Maria continues to write children’s books and is eager to find an agent who will help her to extend her powerful messages to a larger audience.
Maria has published four books, each with positive messages of inclusion, empathy, courage and kindness.
The Potato Chip Champ
Champ and Walter Norbert Whipplemoore are about as different as two kids can be…well, except for their love of baseball and potato chips. Champ had everything, but always wanted more. Walter had very little, but was never seen without a smile on his face. In the end, it is Walter and some crunchy potato chips that teach Champ a lesson about character that can’t be taught in school.
Pink Tiara Cookies For Three
Sami’s perfect life falls apart when the new girl moves in next door. Sami doesn’t need another friend, she has Stella. They are the perfect example of best friends. Mittens come in pairs and so do friends, according to Sami. Bullying can be very subtle, but it hurts just the same. Three can be a tricky number with friends because most of the time, someone gets left out. Follow Sami as she discovers how to keep her best friend and find room for one more in Pink Tiara Cookies for Three.
Spaghetti in A Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage to Be Who You Are
“Lucy, Lucy, eats stinky food that puts us all in a big, bad mood!” How can Ralph be so mean, Lucy wonders? Lucy is one of a kind, and Ralph loves to point that out. Lucy’s defining moment comes when Ralph truly needs her help. Because she knows what she stands for, Lucy has the courage to make the right choice. This charming story empowers children to always do the right thing and to be proud of themselves even when they are faced with someone as challenging as Ralph.
The Juice Box Bully: Empowering Kids to Stand Up For Others
Have you ever seen a bully in action and done nothing about it? The kids at Pete’s new school get involved, instead of being bystanders. When Pete begins to behave badly, his classmates teach him about “The Promise”. Will Pete decide to shed his bullying habits and make “The Promise”? Read The Juice Box Bully to find out!
Maria Dismond’s books
Leave a comment for a chance to win. Comments closed and winner selected on Monday, March 25.
Thanks, Maria. I wish you all the best!
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Randomly selected winner: #66! Congrats, Meredith.
