When reading books to children in a nearby park, Author Rochelle O’Neal Thorpe met a Nanny from Somalia who admired her stories.  After a brief conversation she discovered this young woman graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School with her eldest son.  Rochelle later learned about her struggles adjusting to life in America after leaving her war-torn country.  Being inspired by this young woman Rochelle decided to write a story especially for children from this region of the world.

This story shows how a young African American finds beauty in the headdress worn by a young girl from the Somali Republic.  With the help of her father Keisha discovers the significance of the Hijab and is encouraged to make a new friend. 

 Aisha's Gift shows the innocence and joy children share in making a special friend.

Available May 2012 - Wiggles Press Books
http://rochelleonealthorpe.com/books.html

About the Artist

Artist Anna Leliwa has created the beautiful illustrations for Aisha’s Gift and Dolly’s Winter Surprise. 

In 2000, Anna graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw with Masters Degree in Fine Arts from the Department of Fine Art Restoration. As a Conservator of Fine Art, Anna gained her experiences while working with different painting techniques such as oil painting, acrylic, pastel and watercolor. This knowledge and skills help her to create illustrations which could be easily "read" by children.

Making the illustrations for children's book is like retelling the story. Anna love to focus on all backstage details and characters. She is finding herself really connected to the characters she illustrates.

Anna now lives in Boston and is happily married to Charles and a mother to a Helenka.

 

This beautifully illustrated book introduces readers to Willie and his new family; the Everest’s, who adopted Willie. However, Willie doesn’t feel he fits-in and frankly has trouble adjusting to his new surroundings.

Willie later learns that he has a very special purpose and this discovery leads him to realize how it was his own thinking that brought about feelings of isolation.

The rhyme and tone of the story makes reading enjoyable and also makes it very easy to explore feelings about self-esteem with young ones.

The illustrations are bright and colorful with a touch of animation that brings the story to life.

 

"Willie the Wheelchair is truly an inspiring story that teaches children about embracing their unique qualities and seeing how truly special they are regardless of any adversities they may be faced with."
 

- R.K. Washington,
Creative Education Solutions
Charlotte, North Carolina

Loved this book, definitely a book that could be used with everyone from Kindergarten up, even 5th graders, to teach that everyone has meaning in this world and no one should ever feel left out. Even kindergarteners will understand why Willie was upset, I can just see the lesson plans now!

- Krystle LaChance, Teacher, Grade 2
Southbridge, Massachusetts

Willie the Wheelchair will be released by Wiggles Press Monday, March 19, 2012, just in time for Spring 2012 . Remon Jourdan has already penned two additional stories The Adventures of Rissa and SuperDad and Hop! Hope! Hop! to be published later this year.

About the Author

Remon M. Jourdan is the author of WILLIE THE WHEELCHAIR. He is an underground spoken-word poet from Massachusetts trying to return to his love of writing after a car accident left him paralyzed. He designs and maintains a personal website, Reyality.com, which explores creative ways of inspiring and motivating others through music, writing and poetry. When he's not performing, volunteering or creating, he is absorbing the inspiration from his daughter, Nerissa Rae to keep moving forward.

Remon is also an ambassador for Easter Seals Massachusetts, helping to ensure that people with disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play. Jourdan began his undergraduate courses at Howard University and completed his studies at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a bachelor's degree in Education. He was born and raised in Cambridge where he continues to volunteer by speaking with youth about making good choices. Remon currently resides in Randolph, Massachusetts.

About the Illustrator

Syanne Djaenal is a full time freelance designer and illustrator who was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia. She is a graduate of the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, California. Syanne majored in Advertising and she has also worked with photo editing, logo design, and advertising in both print and online formats.

Syanne's creative projects include medical illustrations and illustrating children's books such as WILLIE THE WHEELCHAIR, The Sun Sets With Jack the Giraffe, and A House With 9 Rooms.

Publisher

Wiggles Press was founded in March 2009; this collaborative publishing house aims to provide storybooks for the hands of little readers that encourage an eagerness to read and inspire the imagination.

In 2012, Wiggles Press grew its authorship from twelve to twenty-eight new authors with a promising catalog of children’s books in print, digital and eBook formats.

WILLIE the WHEELCHAIR
ISBN 978-1-935706-77-9
Library of Congress Control Number
2012902886

Amazon.com

Spring Books 2012

Ththi