Penelope Dyan

Author Information
Penelope Dyan's Latest Book

Newest Release

  • Bibliography:
    646 Books
  • First Book:
    June 2005
  • Latest Book:
    September 2025
  • Share:

Book List in Order: 646 titles

  • Doors

    Take a look behind the doors of the law and discover truth. The pages of DOORS will take you on a journey through the process of the law, and although we have the bestlegal system in the world, our system of justice remains fallible. Find out with th...

  • The Silk Princess

    Travel with the opium swift boats down the River of Pearl. Watch the Boxer Rebellion unfold as the Chinese people try to preserve their ancient civilization and conquer their invaders with paper dragons and swords. Follow the history of the Chinese C...

  • Sweet Lorraine

    Purchase this collector's hardback edition today, and have a copy of Sweet Lorraine that will last for years and years. Then go back in time to WWII and relive the experience of it with 'Sweet Lorraine'. This is a fictional story with a cast of belie...

  • For Love of Pete!

    This is the story of a skinny Italian boy from an immigrant Sicilian family who goes to war to fight for his country and ends up playing the taps on Mount Suribachi as the colors are raised. Travel with Peter as he explores the journey from boyhood t...

  • The Summer Surf

    The story of our surfer girl, Summer, continues with a new plan and a brand new adventure. Summer's ordinary life continues to be quite extraordinary as she travels and swims in so many places. Her boyfriend Phillip is still with her and her ex-boyfr...

  • Surfer Girl

    Summer wants to figure out what the legacy of her life will be. Summer's mother is a writer and is leaving behind her writing for Summer, because this is her legacy for her; and Summer wants a legacy of her own because she is growing up now. Summer's...

  • Surfing on Summer's Wave

    This is the third book in Penelope Dyan's "Surfer Girl" Book Series, and the story of Summer continues. Find out what it means to be a girl like Summer. It isn't easy, but it is fun! In this story, the gang joins Summer once again, and they enact ano...

  • Surfing Sixteen

    Summer is off again, traveling and competing in open water swim competitions and surfing whenever she can. A great white has been sited at the pier, and this affects Summer's ability to swim and surf in the ocean at home. Carrie is starting to act ve...

  • Mary at the Window

    "Mary At The Window" is a love story unlike any other love story you have ever read. It is a sensitive and touching look at the true meanings of life and love. Follow Mary through her life in her search for love, and find out how illness can sometime...



  • Surfing Through Springtime and Swimming Down Under

    Summer is living a dream, and that dream is who she wants to be. She and Phillip have come to an understanding about things, and this is good. She is having fun on her new swim team, and she's working very hard. Summer is still surfing and competing ...

  • Surfing Summer's Florida Adventures

    The story of Summer continues with this sixth book in the Surfer Girl Series. Summer continues her ordinary, but extraordinary life as she follows both her dream and her legacy! Summer. her mother and her godmother, Jill, travel to Florida where Summ...

  • Surfing After Nationals

    'Surfing After Nationals' by Penelope Dyan is the seventh book in the Surfer Girl Book Series, the story of a girl named Summer who leads an ordinary, yet extraordinary life as she travels the world swimming and surfing and fulfilling her legacy. The...

  • Caution Tape

    Book Description (formally called "Annotation"): Penelope Dyan brings her years as an attorney into play with the writing of "Caution Tape" the story of the mystery surrounding war hero and self-professed tough guy, Angelo Marconi . What is the myste...

  • The Warrior Mouse of Forest Hollow

    This is a wonderful little chapter book written especially for kids who like a bit of fantasy and light fairytale reading! It tells the story of a very special and unique little field mouse who falls in love with a beautiful fairy princess, and who, ...

  • Summer Surfs the Olympic Trials

    Seventeen year old Summer is off to the 10K Olympic Trials She's very excited that she even qualified She thought the trials were going to be based on pool times alone, and then (much to her surprise) she ended up qualifying for the Grand Prix 10K ...

  • Bake a Cake, Make Two---And Let Them Eat Cake

    This is book eight of The Penny Mouse Early Reader Series, and hold on to your hat because this is going to be a fun ride More words from the primary reading list fill this book, and the pages are also filled with things at which you can laugh. If y...

  • Go Far Star Car--Even Though Cars Are Not People

    This is another filled with fun little book just meant for kids And you just cannot go wrong with this book. This is the third book in the Penny Mouse Beginning Reader Series, and if you already have books one and two then you and your child are on ...

  • Go Run, Have Fun---Because Everyone Likes Fun

    This is Book Five of the Penny Mouse Early Reader Series, and the fun with reading continues as Dyan brings us another book that is a great teaching tool as well as something parents, teachers and kids can all enjoy Dyan believes in participation in...

  • Jump Frog, Funny Frog---Because Frogs Are Funny

    This is book Nine of the Penny Mouse Early Reader Series, and the fun of learning continues This time Penelope Dyan introduces us to the frogs The frogs jump, of course; and they are bothered by those same pesky little bees that we have seen in ear...



  • Olympic Gold--Because Everyone Loves a Winner!

    This is book ten of the Penny Mouse Early Reader Series. And here we go again, this time with a great review of that primary reading list and a new and fun story that (of course) includes our bees Penelope Dyan brings your child to the love of earni...

  • That Fat Elephant---Because Everyone Likes Elephants

    This is the sixth book in the Penny Mouse Early reader Series, and if you began at the beginning of this series, your children are now well on their way to success with reading From 'Sticks' your child began with the concept of self and learned how ...

  • That Fat Rat Family--Because All Families Aren'T Rats

    This is book seven of the Penny Mouse Early Reader Series. There are a lot more words in this book than in book six of the Penny Mouse Early Reader Series, and this will be very exciting for your child; because your child is getting closer to being a...

  • Blake the Cat---And His Big Me-Owie

    This is a book created for cats and kids, especially for those cats and kids who get into trouble with doors, open doors. These things are mistakes that can be quite traumatic, and sometimes we need to just talk about them, especially if the child bl...

  • If You Put Lipstick on a Pig---You Will Have a Beautiful Pig

    Get involved in politics with your child in an absolutely fun way Based on a political comment by one running for office (that your child has more than likely heard) Dyan sets out to both teach your child and amuse. The other words used in this book...

  • A Lot of Snot, a for Boys Only Book

    This is another very funny book meant just for boys, and it is also a book girls will enjoy. It was written as a supplement to the Penny Mouse Early Reader Series, but it can be enjoyed all by itself. Based on tried and true teaching techniques and b...

  • Who Cut the Cheese? a for Boys Only Book

    This is a very funny book meant for boys only, that girls are also welcome to read. This book was written for those little men who need something to read that is just for them. You can also read this book to your favorite guy of any age It is a supp...

  • Gabriela's Dogs---Because Happiness Really Is a Warm Puppy!

    There really is nothing like a warm puppy, and who doesn't love a puppy? Gabriela certainly is no exception to this rule, and she really takes taking care of her dogs very seriously. Based on a very real girl named Gabriela and her very real passion ...

  • Gracie's Hats

    This is a book created for little girls who just love hats, all sorts of hats And it is a supplement (written just for girls) to the Penny Mouse Early Reader Series. Read this book with your child and increase her oral and reading vocabulary. Enjoy ...

  • Grandma's Suitcase---Where a Kid Can Always Find a Surprise!

    When Grandmas come from far away to visit they always bring surprises, and it is no different for Noah and Sophi. Noah and Sophi call their Grandma "Airplane Grandma," because she always comes to visit on an airplane. The really fun part is getting i...



  • Tammy's Left Shoe---As Opposed to Her Right

    What is a mother to do if she can't find her child's left shoe? Going barefoot is one option, but some occasions simply do not lend themselves to bare feet. Tammy's mother has also learned a very big lesson, to be careful about what she says, because...

  • Three Strikes---Doesn't Really Mean You Are Out

    Enjoy the illustrations and the poetry of Penelope Dyan and remember when you were a kid and you played and ran like the wind. This is the story of little Kyle who has the stamina and ferocity of a major leaguer when it comes to his very favorite spo...

  • To See or Not to See---The Story of Kourtney's Glasses

    Sometimes you think you can see, but your eyes are simply fooling you and everyone else, including your mother. How could you be expected to know whether you see exactly like everyone else unless the doctor tests your eyes? Sometimes things are a mys...

  • Arianna's Shoes

    This is a book created for little girls who just love shoes (but boys can read it too.) And what girl doesn't like a great pair of shoes, or three great pairs or four or even more! Enjoy the illustrations and the poetry of Penelope Dyan and be sure t...

  • Courtney's Beach

    This is a book created for girls and boys who just love the beach and swimming, And what child doesn't like a a warm sandy beach? Enjoy the illustrations and the poetry of Penelope Dyan and be sure to read this book to your child and explore his or h...

  • Jordan's Hair---The Big Dilemma

    This book was written for a little girl named Jordan who begged to have her hair dyed blue so it would match her outfit. In fact, she wondered why she couldn't dye her hair on a daily basis just to match her outfits. Whether Jordan is a diva in the m...

  • The Little Fella with the Big Green Umbrella

    This is a book created for clever kids with great big healthy imaginations, kids who should be kids forever, if only it could be properly arranged. Unfortunately, we must all grow older, but we can still remain kids at heart; and we can still remembe...

  • Ben's Adventures---Proof Positive That Boys Will Be Boys

    Ben is a very interesting boy with a very big imagination, and he is probably exactly like someone you know. The good thing about Ben is he is the idea man of tomorrow, the guy with all the original thoughts; and being Ben is a very good thing for Be...

  • The Story of Snagatooth---Who Is Commonly Known as the Tooth Fairy

    This is the story of Snagatooth, who is commonly known as the tooth fairy. It was written because losing a tooth can be a very scary thing, and that is exactly why the tooth fairy comes and takes away lost teeth and leaves the toothless a treasure. R...

  • Classy Nancy--A One of a Kind Girl

    Do you know someone like Classy Nancy? Perhaps that someone is you. Perhaps sometimes you feel bad because you are different from everyone else. Be like Classy Nancy. You should never feel bad. You should celebrate your differences from other people ...



  • Frugal Frannie--And the Big Room Cleaning Day

    It is very important to share, and it is also very important to know when you should get rid of something, even if you love it, and especially when it could be used by someone less fortunate than you. However, sometime children don't see things the s...

  • Ted E. Bears Most Unfortunate Experience to Date

    Ted E. Bear has a terrible adventure, but like most terrible adventures one has, it was not of his own doing, It seems our little Teddy was the unwary victim of ' bearnapping.' However, in the end all turned out well, as everything came out okay in t...

  • Eileen Green the Recycling Queen

    Everyone knows they need to recycle, but no one knows this better than 'Eileen Green, The Recycling Queen.' Little Eileen Green likes to recycle everything, but there is one thing (well two things) she absolutely refuses to recycle. Find out what it ...

  • Little Miss Chris and the Incredible Red Shoes

    Sometimes you lose something, and it seems like the end of the world. No matter how much you look for it, it cannot be found. And then suddenly you replace that something with something else, something as simple as the nose on your face or the toes o...

  • Mermaids and Wishes for Tails Like Fishes

    Sometimes you have a dream, and you think you want something more than anything else in the world; and for a brief moment you get lost in the thought of it until you realize everything you really want is where your heart is. And that place is home, b...

  • Tony Pickleloni, a Boy Full of Baloney

    Are you a Tony Pickleloni? Or do you eat a balanced diet? Find out what happens to Tony Pickleloni when all he eats from morning until night is baloney between slices of bread. Too much of anything can be a bad thing, as we all know; and Tony Picklel...

  • Vita McCafee McKay, Cat Rescuer

    Are you a cat rescuer like our heroine, Vita? Or do you just love cats? It is always good to help a stray animal to either find their own home or to find them a new one, which may even be yours; but sometimes you need to be careful, and you need to m...

  • Introducing Fabulous Marie, a Girl with a Good Head on Her Shoulders

    Everyone is fabulous, and we all have good heads on our shoulders. Some people lose their heads like Marie Antoinette, but you can have freedom and lots of things without losing your head. Read about our heroine, Marie, and find out why she decided t...

  • There's No Business Like Bartholomew Bunny's Business

    Everyone deserves to have their dreams come true, and there is really no reason why dreams can't come true. The trick is believing in yourself and believing in your dreams, each and every one of them. If you really believe in your dreams, and if you ...

  • Who Deserves a Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie?

    Who deserves a giant chocolate chip cookie? We all do Because there is a king or a princess or a queen in all of us who simply deserves a giant chocolate chip cookie. However, if you don't like chocolate chip cookies, this does not mean you aren't a...



  • There Are Bees in My Trees!

    Sometimes bees happen to take up residence in very strange places, and a beekeeper has to be called to move them to a new hive. Bees can sting you, and sometimes that hurts a lot; so you need to be very careful about bees. However, all creatures have...

  • Hair We Are!

    What small child doesnt like to comb his or her mothers hair? Jason decides iif he is going to do it, he has to do it right. And that means practice and lots of it. So on what and on whom does he practice besides himself? Read this book and nd out, a...

  • I Did It, and I Hid It! a Book about Taking Responsibility

    Lying is never a good thing. But even if you have lied about something, you can always correct that by simply telling the truth. The most important thing a person can do it to take responsibility when they do something wrong. Let the angel on your sh...

  • There's a Chicken in My Kitchen!

    Do you have things lurking and living in your house? Do they make you afraid or nervous? Sometimes things are real and sometimes they are pretend, and to pretend is very good, as long as you don't scare yourself. The child in this book has a very big...

  • This Means War! for Boys Only

    War is not a good thing, and you must choose your battles carefully. Luckily, our hero and his best friend, Bobby, experienced an intervention before their war got out of hand. Can you guess who it was that stopped their war? Find out what armies the...

  • The Musical Family--Sometimes a Song Says It All

    Music is the 'staff' of life. People say music can soothe the soul of the savage beast, and maybe that is true. The author of this book certainly believes it is Based on Penelope Dyan's own family when she was growing up, Dyan continues the celebrat...

  • Mikey and Me and the Bees, the Continuing Story of a Girl and Her Dog

    This is a very special book based on the words on the Dolch reading word list, and progresses with each book; but this book is unique, because it has very large print that very young eyes (and eyes that may need a little help to see words) can use to...

  • Mikey and Me and the Valentines---The Continuing Story of a Girl and Her Dog

    This book was written on Valentines Day and is book five in the 'Mikey And Me' book series. It incorporates the words from the dolch reading word list to add yet another very special dimension to the book. But it doesn't have to be Valentines Day for...

  • Mikey and Me and the Fly---The Continuing Story of a Girl and Her Dog

    This is the third book in the 'Mikey and Me' reading series with extra large print for little eyes that need it. With an emphasis on family and love, Penelope Dyan uses her poetry and kid sized book and artwork to help children learn the words in the...

  • Mikey and Me and the Frogs---The Continuing Story of a Girl and Her Dog

    This is another large size print book for little eyes. It contains words to build upon from the Dolch Reading Words list, as does Dyans first "Mikey and Me" book; and it is the second book in the "Mikey and Me" early learn to read large print book se...

  • Mikey and Me and the Spider---The Continuing Story of a Girl and Her Dog

    This is book 4 of the 'Mikey And Me' extra large print early reading book series, written for little eyes that need help to see the words that comprise the dolch reading word list in a fun and new way. Kid sized books, with kid friendly illustrations...

  • Great Grandma Is Getting Old

    Everyone gets older and we all have aches and pains as we age, but there are those who see us age with different eyes. The little girl in our story notices people are saying her great grandma is getting old, just as the title of this book suggests. H...

  • My Mother Always Says

    Mothers are important people, and sometimes kids don't like to listen to their mothers and fathers; but it is very important that they listen, because mothers and fathers do have some important things to say. And you don't want to miss a word. Who yo...

  • The Hatchling, the Story of Stegi Stegosaurus

    The oldest dinosaurs known are from Argentina and Brazil and are about 230 million years old. The most primitive of these, Eoraptor, was a small meat-eating dinosaur. A lot of people think today's dinosaurs are birds; that is, that birds evolved from...

  • Out of Deepest Africa---Another of Ben's Big Adventures---For Boys Only

    Everyone has dreams and sometimes those dreams you dream at night can be scarey. That's how it was with Ben one night. He had a dream that was both scary and fun, but it was still a dream he was glad to get out of when he saw the vultures and realize...

  • Today I Am Two! I Am Two Years Old Today!

    When you are two all the world is a grand, grand place; and today is a big day for the two year old in this book, because it is her birthday Now she knows she won't always be two, and she most doesn't consider herself a terrible two.. And soon, as s...

  • The Carousel

    Is it really true that life is like a merry-go-round? And do you like to ride the carousel? This is a story all about reaching for the brass ring. Have you ever wondered what you would win if you grabbed the brass ring off the carousel? Well, this is...

  • I Am a Monster!

    Do you have a monster under your bed? Or is the monster only on your head? And does it make any difference where a monster resides as long as there is a monster? And if there is a monster, then what can you learn from that monster about life and how ...

  • In My Attic

    What do you have lurking in your attic besides dust bunnies and Christmas bulbs and ornaments that you pull out every year? You might be surprised to find out that there are some interesting things lurking in the unknown, but you don't need to be afr...

  • Just Look Out the Window!

    Sometimes when you go looking for answers, the answer is just outside your window. Of course, that does depend on what the question is. Penelope Dyan explores the answer to one question and finds her answer by looking just outside the window. Can you...

  • Off to School

    It's 'Off To School' with Penelope Dyan Use this book to get the dialog going about that first day od school. Dyan knows that sometimes kids are apprehensive about going to school, and so she addresses that apprehension directly in this fun little b...

  • A Turtle's Life for Me!

    Have you ever thought about what it would be like to be a turtle? Just think, you could go anywhere you wanted to go and never leave your home, because you would be carrying your home on your back! (Or at least that's what everyone says.) This is the...

  • The Fish That Got Away---For Boys Only

    Is there something you would really like to do? Maybe you want more than anything to have a surprise birthday party, and you make a secret wish for one at someone else's surprise birthday party. Maybe you want to do something simpler, like learn to f...

  • I Like Football--For Boys Only

    Are you a boy who likes football? Do you like it a lot? Is it a time you and your dad can get together with something in common? Then this is the book for you! The hero of this book tells a very funny story about what happens when he goes to a footba...

  • Lovely Libby

    Lovely little Libby isn't so pretty when she is mean and yells at her mother. Her mother says she is just a drama queen, and is afraid to say no to Libby who wants everything she sees. Libby had a terrible problem with being mean; and something had t...

  • Time to Scrub

    Is it true there is a time for everything? Silly Sally and her mother seem to think so. There is a time to relax and a time to have fun; and there is a time to scrub. And there is always time to smile, of course. Take a look at life through the eyes ...

  • Do You Mind If I Smoke?

    Penelope Dyan was cruising down the Rhine River in Germany when a wrinkled rather young woman began blowing smoke in her face. Dyan very politely tried to fan the smoke away with a piece of paper; and the woman just laughed at her and held the cigare...

  • To the Moon

    American Neil Armstrong stepped out of this space capsule and onto the dusty moon on July 21, 1969. Have you ever thought about what it would be like to live on the moon? Well surprise! Scientists have discovered water on the moon. And what does life...

  • My Christmas Socks

    All kids have a favorite something. Maybe your favorite thing is a blanket or a pillow. And maybe you like its smell and never want to wash it, whatever it is. The girl in this book had some socks she liked to wear because of Christmas. She never wan...

  • Searching for Santa

    Have you ever wanted to just go and talk to Santa Claus? And were you too impatient to wait for Christmas? Find out what one girl's little brother did and why he got into tons of trouble. Christmas is a very exciting time of year, but it is also a ti...

  • My Life as I Know It

    It isn't easy being a kid, and it's even harder to grow up; but sometimes there are people along the way who can really help you. The main thing is you need to believe in yourself and in who you are and you need to keep on believing in yourself and w...

  • Christmas Gifts

    What is the best possible gift you can ever imagine, and who do you think gave you this gift? Think about all the wonderful things in your life and then decide what is really the mot important thing to you and why. What does Christmas mean to you? Pe...

  • Dreadful Didi

    No one should ever be a dreadful DiDi. But exactly what is a dreadful DiDi? Can a dreadful DiDi change her ways so that she is no longer dreadful? If you are a dreadful DiDi or if you know a dreadful DiDi (which most of us do) then this is the book f...

  • Happiness Is. . . Happiness Is. . .

    Happiness is many different things to many different people. Some happiness is fleeting, like getting a brand new bicycle that you have wanted for a long, long time. You are very excited to get it, but after awhile you seem to forget how happy it onc...

  • Zoe's Story

    This is a book written for a very special little girl named Zoe who has a very interesting perspective on life. And what is that perspective? It is to have a much fun as you possibly can in life and to enjoy every minute of it! And in Zoe's case it s...

  • Even More of My Life as I Know It

    Penelope Dyan is back with a sequel to the sequel "More of My Life As I Know It," appropriately titled "Even More Of My Life As I know It." This story continues to explore the concept of both the first kiss and how times once were when things were si...

  • More of My Life as I Know It

    Penelope Dyan is back with a sequel to "My Life As I Know It," appropriately titled "More Of My Life As I know It." She is here to tell you life goes on, and nothing is as grim as it may seem. She also reminds us that nothing is impossible and life i...

  • My Life as I Know It--Part IV

    The story continues, and this is "My Life As I Know It, Part V." Pam wants to go on a hayride because she thinks it will be romantic, and our heroine is not so sure it's a good idea. All sorts of thoughts and ideas are explored in this book as heroi...

  • Fly Like a Flamingo

    People always say you should soar like an eagle, right? But why not fly like a flamingo? Yes, it is true. Flamingoes fly. They fly at night. But that isn't the point of this story. The point of this story is to be happy with the person you are. You h...

  • Hoppy Easter!

    There is a reason for the Easter season, and while it is great fun to look for all the colored eggs and fun things the Easter Bunny might bring, there is an even bigger reason for the celebration of Easter. This book uses basic teaching skills, repet...

  • Hush!

    Everyone needs a friend sometime, and nobody likes to be alone. See what happens when some spunky animals get too noisy in the library and are told to leave. Who is left behind, and what happens next? This book combines the concept of friendship with...

  • My Valentines

    This book is a valentine in and of itself, and it is meant for all of the many valentines out there in the world, who need to be reminded there is no end to love. People express love, animals express love--in this book love seems to be just about eve...

  • Bunny Eyes

    Do you have bunny eyes? Do yo know who does? The answer might surprise you as you read this whimsical story filled with words from the Dolch reading word list. Use this book to have some fun and to practice your reading skills and increase your readi...

  • Easter Eggs and Bunny Wishes

    Welcome to the world of Easter Eggs and Bunny wishes, where a kid learns there is more than this for the reason for this season. Just like Christmas, Easter is part of one long glorious story;;and Christians all over the world celebrate this day. Pen...

  • Hoppy Go Lucky Little Easter Bunny

    Do you wait anxiously for the Easter Bunny each year? Here is a fun story that will help you pass the time as you read. This book is funny, easy for a kid to read, and its pictures are drawn just for you. Copy them and make your own books, and try wr...

  • Mikey & Me and the Sea

    This is another Mikey and Me book, written so little eyes you have trouble seeing can really see the words. This book contains words from the Dolch reading list, works with picture/word recognition and repetition and rhyme as it tells the story of 'M...

  • My Two Cents Worth!

    It is never too early to learn about idioms, and "My two cents worth" is one of those things we call idioms. The English language is a beautiful thing, all filled with nuances, metaphors and similes that you can learn as you read. The fun thing abut ...

  • Someone's Getting Married!

    Do you know someone who is getting married? People get married all the time, and weddings are lots of fun. But it doesn't mean whoever is getting married is going away forever. They will still be the very same person right there to love you just like...

  • The Big Mikey & Me Workbook 2

    Read the words on one page (most from the Dolch reading word lists) and then draw a picture on the page right next to the page where you read the words or do what the words tell you to do. Once again, there are also no wrong ways to do this book so w...

  • Blake the Cat and His Very Loose Tooth!

    Sometimes we have a pet that we love so much, and no matter how hard we try it seems we just cannot seem to completely protect them. Something happens, and they get hurt; and you take your pet to the vet and then your dear pet gets better. This is a ...

  • Did You Call?

    Someone is expecting a phone call, and it hasn't come. I wonder who it is to whom our hero wants to speak? Can you guess who? Perhaps ypu should read this very silly book and find out for yourself. Simple repetition of a few good words at a time, mak...

  • Pass the Gas! for Boys Only

    Sometimes boys have gas, and they have to let it out. Girls try to hide these things, but boys think it is funny. This is why Penelope Dyan added this book to her For Boys Only ® series of books. The whole point of buying a book is to read it, and i...

  • Adam

    Who was the very first man on earth? Why, it was Adam, of course! And Adam was created out of nothing but dust and lived in a wonderful garden called Eden. What do you think Eden was like? Can you draw a picture of what you think it might have been l...

  • Bubble Trouble---For Boys Only

    This book is another book written for boys only, with extra large print for the littlest eyes. This book can be used as an introduction to beginning reading. Written and illustrated by former teacher, award winning writer and attorney, Penelope Dyan,...

  • Eve

    Eve was the very first woman on the entire earth, and you might say that because she was the first woman to wear clothes (thanks to her eating of the forbidden fruit) that she was also the inventor of style! Do you ever think about what it would be l...

  • Helping Hands

    What is a helping hand? Do you know where to find a helping hand? You might be surprised at the answer! Read this fun book and find out about helping hands. Ask yourself if helping hands are really happy hands. Penelope Dyan is back again to explore ...

  • I Am the Moon

    Do you know who the sun and the moon really are? Are you somebody's sunshine? Are you someone's moon? Read this book and find out why the author of this book says she is the moon. Can you guess who her sun might be? Everyone is important to someone,b...

  • Let It Shine

    Everyone has a special light inside of them, and you have a special light inside of you as well. Please do not let anyone convince you otherwise. go outside and run and play, and have fun because no matter how old you get, you will keep the child ins...

  • Three Wishes

    Bellissima Publishing, LLC is all about dreams and wishes making them come true. And Penelope Dyan wants everyone to know that dreams and wishes are important and this is why she wrote this book especially for you. The little girl in this story think...

  • Bowser's Trousers

    Sometimes you can look all over the house and not find what you need. Sometimes you misplace something because you forgot where you left it or last put it. When Bowser awoke he wanted to get dressed, but he couldn't find his trousers. He looked and l...

  • Ben's Elephant!

    Former teacher, attorney and international award winning author, Penelope Dyan, wrote this book, "Ben's Elephant!" for her good friend, Ben. Ben calls Penelope Dyan the 'book lady,' and he is full of ideas for stories he wants her to write. One day w...

  • Destiny

    A lot of people have a lot of things to say about destiny. Have you every thought about destiny? Do you even know what it is? This is your chance to find out something about what destiny means and why it is a part of each of us. Written and illustrat...

  • The White Elephant No One Wants

    Do you feel all alone, like you are the white elephant in the room? Do you know what a white elephant is? The term 'white elephant' is an idiom ( a word group with an entirely different meaning from the separate words when the words are said all toge...

  • Molly Moose Is on the Loose

    Have you ever had a pet run away from home and then have to go and find it. I'll bet you asked everyone you knew if they had seen our pet. Our heroine has a different kind of pet, but when it runs away she misses it just as much as you would miss you...

  • Smile!

    Sometimes people don't like you just because you are you, and there isn't really anything you can do about it, except to just keep being the great person you are. This book was written to remind everyone who has ever been bullied, made fun of or trea...

  • I Can't Stand the Rain!

    Sometimes we don't like it when it rains. All sorts of things come with rain, like thunder and lightning; and that can be very scary. You definitely can't go swimming when there is thunder and lightening, but you can still swim when it's just plain o...

  • New Shoes for Hand Me Down Rose

    "When I was a little girl, I loved the story of the red shoes, the story about he little girl who so wanted to wear the shiny red shoes, that when she got them and put them on her feet, she couldn't stop dancing. Now the end to that story by the famo...

  • There's a Skunk in My Trunk

    This is a funny little story told in rhyme about a boy who says there is a skunk in his trunk and that the skunk also did some pretty bad things around the house. See if you believe the boy, and ask yourself what happened. Listen to the rhyming words...

  • Thou Shalt Not Covet!

    Sometimes maybe you don't like someone and there is really no good reason why. It may be that you covet something they have or are and wish you could have what they have or be who they are. What you need to remember is that you are a special person, ...

  • Today I Am 4!

    Birthdays are a lot of fun, especially when it is your birthday, and especially when you are going to be four years old! Any four year old will clearly tell you when you are four you can do just about anything! The little girl in this story is very e...

  • There's a Flea in My Tea

    Fleas are everywhere, on dogs, on people, on cats and on all sorts of animals; but have you ever found a flea in your tea? Do you even drink tea? This is a very funny story about the journey of a flea as observed or maybe thought of by one little gir...

  • There's a Fly on My Pie!

    Practice your reading skills and your counting skills at the same time and have some fun while you are doing it! Have you ever counted flies? Well, if not then this is your opportunity to count some very funny flies with big green eyes. Everything in...

  • There's a Teddy Bear in My Heart!

    Sometimes you have something so dear to your heart that you know that even when you are old, you will never really leave it behind you. This is how it is with our young hero's teddy bear. Do you have something special that you love with all your hear...

  • A Thousand Stars

    Have you ever wondered what happened to all the stars you used to see in the sky? Our protagonist did and she went on her very own quest and asked everyone she knew where they thought the stars had gone, until she finally found her answer, and what a...

  • I Love You!

    Do you need to go and look for love, or does love find you every single day? Find out where our heroine looked for love, and laugh at all the oh so funny creatures she asked along the way. If you thought you had to look for love, where would you look...

  • A New Bag!

    For Mom, a new purse is always a very big treat. Why? Because everyone knows that mothers seem to have very little time to actually shop for themselves. However, this is not a story about time. This is a story about one mom buying something new and t...

  • Work It Out!

    Award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, broaches a very big subject about getting along with one another; and with that subject comes one very big word, and that word is "compromise." What does it mean to compromise? Dyan wo...

  • If You Snooze!

    It is true that if you snooze you WILL lose. Award winning author, attorney and former teacher Penelope Dyan uses her tried and true teaching methods of rhyme, repetition and word recognition to talk about this subject in a very fun way as kids learn...

  • Respect!

    There is one important word to which we should ALL pay careful attention, and that word is RESPECT! Use this book to practice reading skills and increase your reading vocabulary, and use the message in the book to open up a dialog about what it means...

  • The Sunny Side!

    Do you walk on the sunny side of life? Because award winning author, attorney and former teacher certainly hopes you do! Where is the sunny side of the street? Is your life happy and sunny? And what do YOU think may be on the dark side of the street,...

  • Teeth!

    This is a book about teeth, about eating right, about keeping your glorious smile, and about eating healthy and exercising. And it is all done and the story is told as you practice your reading skills through repetition and rhyme and a lot of basic w...

  • In Gracie's Yard!

    A home is more than a house, and everyone knows home is where your heart is. Use this book to discuss the concepts of home and love as you learn to read and build your dolch reading word list vocabulary thought the use of rhyme and word recognition a...

  • There Was a Flamingo in My Tub!

    Have you ever found a flamingo in your tub? What would you do if you happened to find a flamingo or other creature in your tub one day just as you were getting ready to take your nice warm bubble bath with your favorite rubber ducky? Written by award...

  • Why Angels Sing!

    Award winning author, attorney, and former teacher, Penelope Dyan writes this faith based book just for kids and tells the Christmas story in her own familiar way. With words that rhyme and repetition, and extra large print, this is a book that teach...

  • Some Bunny Loves You!

    Everybody loves some bunny and some bunny loves you. Can you guess who the some bunny of this story is? Written by the award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, and illustrated with her very kid-friendly drawings, this book is...

  • Woolly Bully!

    Bullying isn't good or fun, not for the person doing the bullying or for the person on the receiving end of the bullying. Both sides of this issue are explored by award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, who believes any unki...

  • You Are Okay!

    Sometimes people don't like you for no reason at all. It isn't your fault, and you have done nothing wrong; but it still doesn't feel good. This is yet another book by award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, written just to ...

  • The Last Mustang

    Have you ever dreamed of running with a wild mustang? Or have you ever dreamed of having and of owning a horse? Maybe you even have a horse of your very own! Do you love horses and all of life? What would happen if things suddenly changed in the worl...

  • Bunny Love! a Book about Home and Bunnies.

    You may have heard of puppy love, but this is something entirely different; because this is a book about bunny love. Bunny love is something very special that doesn't have to be reserved just for Easter. It is the kind of love we can enjoy on Valenti...

  • Dear God, Thank-You!

    You don't have to wait for Thanksgiving day to say thank-you, because saying thank-you should be an everyday thing! And you should never think it is silly to say thank-you for anything. This is a book about giving thanks, and that means saying thank-...

  • Gettin' Dirty! for Boys Only

    Do you like to go outside and play in the mud? Do you enjoy running in the rain and letting your imagination run wild with you? And how do you feel about umbrellas? Perhaps you would rather just get wet. Ask yourself these questions and others as you...

  • Baylee's Giraffes! Sometimes Only a Giraffe Will Do

    Little Baylee wants a giraffe (or maybe she wants two giraffes or three or four) and her mother brings her a very small kitten, It isn't that Bailey doesn't like the kitten, it is just that Bailey has always wanted a giraffe, because giraffes make Ba...

  • Good Night!

    There is nothing quite like a mother's love, and there is nothing quite like getting ready for bed, going to bed and getting tucked in by your mother. This book, written by the award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, takes a...

  • Life Is a Dream!

    This is a book about good old fashioned values, or at least it is meant to open the discussion about what good old fashioned values are. And if we are to survive as a society, we need to reset our values. We need to reboot our lives to get back to ce...

  • When Touching Is Bad

    Sometimes touching is bad and sometimes touching is good; and the difference is really quite simple, especially when explained by award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan in terms a child can really understand. So many, many t...

  • Don't Wake Up the Bear!

    No one likes to be awakened from a sound sleep, especially not your teddy bear! Practice your reading skills as you learn to read through repetition, word recognition and rhyme, and enjoy the kid-friendly illustrations in this fun book written and il...

  • Changes!

    Everything changes all the time, and change can be a very good thing. Some things change because they have to change, and some changes we make all by ourselves. This book is about some changes in life that happen every single day; and the purpose of ...

  • Good Luck Chuck!

    Everyone loves 'Good Luck Chuck,' but it has nothing to do with his luck. Read this book by the award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, and find out what 'Good Luck Chuck' had that was even better than good luck as you pract...

  • Hello Doctor!

    Everybody gets sick sometime or another, and sometimes kids pretend they are sick so they don't have to go to school. Find out why the child in this story doesn't want to go to school and what happens when her mother takes her to school even though s...

  • A Girl Named Dot

    Read all about a girl named Dot. Maybe you know someone just like her, and maybe you would like to be just like Dot. Our author, Penelope Dyan does! Why/ because kindness and a smile can go a long way in our mixed up world full of bullies and kids wh...

  • Hooray 4 Five!

    Everyone has birthdays. The question in this book is not what do you want for your birthday, but rather, what do you already have? And what do you not have? Use this book as a learning tool to practice reading skills through word recognition and rhym...

  • The Cat Named Blake

    This is the story, or at least it is a part of the story about an orange and white striped cat with big green eyes. This is the story of the cat named Blake. It is also a story about love, and how we should all love one another; and even more importa...

  • The Day an Elephant Flies!

    If you were a mouse, what would you do? What adventures would lie ahead? Use your imagination to follow along with one little mouse as he makes his merry way though one very happy day. This little mouse was promised something very special, but only o...

  • What Is a Telephant?

    Kids always have questions, and sometimes those questions may seem a little silly; but the important thing you want to remember is that the only foolish question is the question you never ask, because it is from our questions that we learn and discov...

  • The Christmas Flamingo

    It is time to move over Mr. Santa Claus, because the Christmas Flamingo is coming to town No more reindeer's paws and sleighs, because this Christmas Flamingo works all on his own Have fun reading all about a funny and very different kind of Christ...

  • Where Is Lucy?

    Sometimes when you think something is lost (like your cat) it isn't really lost at all You might say that (in that case) something never really lost is found. Since finding good things is also generally a very good thing, you will smile when you fin...

  • About Puppies

    There is an old saying,or maybe it isn't so old, that says, "There is nothing like a warm puppy," or a kitty, whichever you may prefer. Penelope Dyan took some time to think about that, but not as much time as you might think, and then she wrote this...

  • It's Monday!

    This book started out as a day of the week book, but then it ended up just being a book about Monday. Now some people think Sunday is the first day of the week, but any kid would disagree. You see Monday is the first day of the week that a kid has to...

  • Rudolph's at Grandma's!

    Whenever little Jadzia comes to visit, she has a story in mind; and even though she is only five years old, she is ready to make a book, with a little help from Penelope Dyan, who is also ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work! Everyone has a s...

  • You Should Be Dancing!

    There really is nothing quite like a song, unless you are curling up with a good book, or maybe watching a sunset. Music is one of the joys of life; and where there is music, there is dancing. So you should be dancing! Award winning author, attorney ...

  • Dependable

    If you are dependable, then you are trustworthy and reliable, faithful, unfailing, steadfast and stable. However, If you are expendable, then you are designed to be used only once and not worth keeping. Once again you will be faced with a dilemma, an...

  • Frog Kissin'

    Have you ever gone frog kissin'? Of course, we are not really talking about actual frogs, or are we? The thing about frogs is you never know when a frog will turn out to be a true prince, but of course of you kissed a real frog you might get salmonel...

  • Jive Talkin'

    The idea of truth and of telling the truth is a very big and very important idea, but even more perplexing is why people lie to themselves and others about others and about whom they are. That said, in this book, the award winning author, attorney an...

  • Let Them Go!

    Sometimes people don't like you, and no matter how hard you try there isn't one single thing you can do about it. This might make you sad. Everyone likes to be appreciated and liked; and this book, "Let Them Go " is all about how this sad thing of pe...

  • Mean People

    Being mean means that you are offensive, selfish, as well as accommodating, nasty or malicious. A mean person is often small-minded or ignoble, contemptible and despicable. If you do not want to be a mean person then you should be a nice person. Bein...

  • The Pudding

    This is another book all about choices, and of course it is also about pudding, sort of; because this book is about truth, and the truth is always in the pudding, or so people say. And it is true that everyone chooses who they are, or at least who th...

  • When Puppies Sing!

    Sometimes when you play music or sing, a puppy will sing along. No one knows exactly why they do this. They just do The best thing you can do about it is to just sing with the puppy and enjoy the experience and maybe even giggle and laugh a bit. Ins...

  • Don't Throw It Away!

    Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "To have a good friend is one of the greatest delights of life." And so it follows that while a friend may walk away from you, you should never walk away from or throw away a friend, even if sometimes you have to let th...

  • Fight or Flight

    We are all governed by our autonomic nervous system, and neuroscience tells us our bodies sometimes just react to situations with which we are faced. When we are faced with something that frightens us, for example, we may go into what is called a fig...

  • Do No Wrong!

    There are three things you should always remember and those three things are are: 1) Do not harm another person; 2) Do not harm another person's property; and 3) Do not harm yourself. Add to that the Golden rule, and you pretty much know what is righ...

  • I Can't Smile!

    Sometimes a person just does not feel like smiling. And not smiling all the time is perfectly okay. Maybe you are feeling other things, like sadness, or perhaps you are worried about something or you just want to sit and think, Award winning author, ...

  • I'm Sorry!

    You should never be afraid to say you are sorry if you have done something or said something that has hurt someone else. Maybe you didn’t realize what you said or did was hurtful, and then suddenly you found out. What can you do? The only thing you...

  • A Masquerade

    Is life a masquerade? And after all is said and done, is it okay to sometimes keep some things to yourself about how you may be feeling? What makes good manners different from bad manners? And do you think you have good manners? Read this book and pr...

  • Say Nothing Bad!

    You should never say anything bad about another person, and you should never carry tales, repeat things you overhear or spread rumors about what you think you might have seen or heard, because you might be wrong about what you saw or heard, and you m...

  • Broken Hearts!

    Hearts are broken all the time. Maybe your best friend gets mad at you, and then your heart is broken. What do you do when you get a broken heart? The best thing is to go where your heart is. Do you know where that could possibly be? If you don't, th...

  • If the Shoe Fits!

    This is a typical 'learn to read' Penelope Dyan book all about shoes that you can read to practice your reading skills as you discuss a very important subject, filling a pair of shoes. You see, nothing is as important as being a true and good friend,...

  • Tell Them!

    There is something you need to say. Can you guess what that something is? Here is a hint. It is only three little words, and everyone needs to hear these three words, some time or another, so why not everyday? Why don't you say those words in the mor...

  • Brother John

    Whether you have a big brother or a little brother, brothers are lots of fun; and that is exactly why Penelope Dyan wrote this book to remind those of us who have brothers exactly how we feel about them. Use this 'learn to read' book written and illu...

  • Come Unto Me!

    This is a book for kids that is meant to teach a very important lesson, for Jesus said . . . "Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God." Luke 18:16, King James Version, the Holy Bible. And Jesus al...

  • My Dad!

    There is one very important person in your life who you should never forget. That one person is your very own dear sweet father. You become the person you are or who you will be because of your parents, and dads are a very important part of a kid's l...

  • Stop It!

    Sometimes people start fighting, and then the fighting gets bigger and bigger! Before you realize it, there is a great big war going on right before your eyes! What do you do? One thing you can do is something that is in this 'learn to read' book fil...

  • The Best!

    The best is always yet to come. And do you know why this is true? See if you can figure it out before you come to the very end of the book! (Hint: it has to do with you.) This kid-sized book, written by award winning author, attorney and former teach...

  • The Giving Heart

    We all need to have giving hearts, but few of us really know or understand what a giving heart truly is. Read this 'learn to read' book based on and inspired by a very true story about three boys, and find out what a giving heart does and why a givin...

  • Just Say 'Yolo!'

    We all need to follow our own dreams, but sometimes we let things get in the way. We seem to get distracted by what others may say to discourage us, and then we never become all that we can be. What a kid needs to remember is we are all different, an...

  • Rhubarb Soup

    Have you ever tasted rhubarb soup? If you have, then it probably didn't taste anything at all like the rhubarb soup our two heroines, Debbie and Cindy made. And why did they make rhubarb soup in the first place? Well, if you read this 'learn to read'...

  • In the Breeze

    A mother's love is everlasting. It has no beginning, and it has no end. It floats on the breeze. This 'learn to read' book is about the breeze and the love in the breeze. If you close your eyes and sit oh so very still, you will feel it. It chases aw...

  • Say Something Nice!

    Saying something nice is a very important thing to do; and if you can't say something nice, then you shouldn't say anything at all! You might think it is okay to say everything that comes into your head; but while communication is good, if the thing ...

  • What's Normal?

    Sometimes a kid gets down on himself or herself, because that kid thinks he or she needs to be just like everyone else, and all they want to be is a 'normal' kid. But exactly what is normal? People always talk about things like getting back to normal...

  • What's Up?

    Words have different meanings at different times, and what a word means is relative to the context of whatever is being communicated. The main thing to remember about words is that words are the basic tools of communication, whether you write words, ...

  • The Old Woman

    Never forget the old woman who lives in the shoe. That said, you might think you don't really know anyone who lives in a shoe, especially an old woman; but you really do! You see this shoe is just a pretend shoe, a metaphor for what really is; and th...

  • Another Christmas

    What does Christmas mean to you? Christmas may mean a lot of things to a lot of different people, but Jesus really is the reason for the season. Have fun reading this 'learn to read' book by award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope...

  • What's on Your Plate?

    Penelope Dyan, award winning author, attorney and former teacher, introduces her readers to a little bit of some very classic Lewis Carroll, as she opens and ends this book, so that children can contemplate the meaning of things as they may. This boo...

  • Who Am I?

    You can play a guessing game called "Who Am I?" and pretend to be someone else; but the someone you really need to be is the someone who is the person who is you. It sounds like an easy thing to do; but sometimes it isn't such an easy thing to be who...

  • The Last Old Woman Standing!

    This is a story about growing old, and about the many things changing in life, because everything in life changes as we journey through it. Written by the award winning author, attorney, and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, this 'learn to read' book, f...

  • There's Nothing Bigger!

    There is one thing that is bigger than anything else in the entire world. Can you guess what that thing is. Hint: You can't see it or touch it, but it is bigger than an elephant and wider than the sea. Written by award winning author, attorney and fo...

  • Napoli's Story---A Kid's Guide To Naples, Italy

    This is Napoli’s story; and all it takes is a walk through the streets of Napoli to see, feel and hear it. All you have to do is simply see what surrounds you. From the graffiti on walls, to the artwork and paintings, to the faces you will see . . ...

  • It's Christmas Day! a Merry Christmas Book

    Christmas may come  but one a year, but we should keep the spirit of Christmas alive all through the year, with tidings of joy and love and giving.  And if we  kept Christmas alive throughout the year, just think what a wonderful world this wou...

  • Little Caterpillar

    There is nothing quite like the lovely sight of a swarm of butterflies, or even one Butterfly!  Butterflies are symbols of being free, and it’s not difficult to close your eyes and imagine you are soaring through the air on the wings of a butte...

  • The Bigger Person

    Knowing what is right and what is wrong is fundamental to becoming and then being the bigger person.  And as you will discover, being the bigger person has nothing at all to do with size.  

    Use this learn to read book written and illustra...

  • Money! the Best Things in Life Really Are Free!

    There is money, and then there is wealth, and the two things may sound like they are the same, when in actuality they are very different; and the truth is, that the best things in life really are free!

    Practice reading skills through word r...

  • Listen to the Beat! a Kid's Guide to Mazatlan, Mexico

    Mazatlan is a Nahuatl word meaning “place of deer.”(Although when in Mazatlan, our author and photographer saw no deer.)  Nahuatl is commonly known as the Aztec language, a language of the Uto-Aztecan language family. Varieties of Nahuatl are...

  • By Threes! or More!

    Kids as well as adults always seem to want to count things that aren’t really important, such as money and material things.  Knowing how to count is a very good skill to have, but some things in your life can’t really be measured or counted.<...

  • Choose Acts of Love and Kindness

    We are living in a world where acts of love and kindness are not always applauded, and where people seem to want to gather their possessions unto themselves; and that is what prevents us  from engaging in acts of kindness and love and unselfish g...

  • Just Do It! and Get It Done!

    If it is true, as Benjamin Franklin said, “Lost time is never found again.” then we all need to make the best use of our time! So when it comes to getting things done that need to be done, then we should all just do what we need to do.  And t...

  • Need or Greed? and a Caring Heart

    Enjoy practicing your reading skills through the use of word recognition, word repetition and rhyme, and ask yourself what you consider to be the most important things in life, This faith-based ‘learn to read’ book by the award winning author,...

  • One Good Wish! Deserves Another!

    What is love and how does love differ from a wish?  Or are they really one and the same?  And if they are not the same thing, maybe they should be!  Ask yourself this puzzling question  as you go through each page of this ‘learn to read’ b...

  • Catch the Sun! a Story about One Eclipse

    Once upon a time, the moon had a dream that it could catch the sun. And finally, the moon’s dream came true!  However, it appeared this wasn’t the first time, or even the only time, this had happened; and it appeared that the moon had been pl...

  • Don't Talk to a Stranger!

    We have all heard about ‘stranger danger’. Hopefully, we will listen to what we have been told.  Quite simply, you should never talk to strangers, or take anything from a stranger.  Listen to those who warn you to be careful and to not trust...

  • Three Elizabeths

    To borrow a phrase from the French, “vive la différence”, meaning “long live the difference”, is often used to express appreciation of diversity; and diversity is, after all, just another word for ‘difference’.  Look around you and f...

  • Don't Worry! Everything Will Be All Right!

    We are all afraid of some things sometimes.  But we need to be brave when things we can’t control happen or are about to happen, like earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes and even tornadoes.  One thing is certain; and that is, when you are a kid...

  • In Santa's Sleigh -- Lime Green Robes for Christmas

    Christmas comes but once a year, but we can still keep the spirit of Christmas alive all through the year if we really try.  Or maybe we don’t have to really try all that hard to keep Christmas alive if we can only change our hearts and how we ...

  • If I Could Fly on a Cloud!

    Sometimes a dream isn’t as good as the real thing; and yet, it is always fun to dream about things, and we all do need to dream!  

    Use this ‘learn to read’ book created by award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dy...

  • Not For The Birds! A Kid's Guide To Amber Cove, DR

    Amber Cove is located in the province of Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic’s north coast region where you can see historic colonial architecture recreated with a modern twist. Amber Cove consists  of thirty acres of waterfront property, a ...

  • Sweet Child

    Sometimes when a family grows, children may worry that parents will love them less, or that there won’t be enough love left for them.  Use this ‘learn to read’ book to begin a discussion about the concept of love, and to reassure the wary c...

  • Just Be You!

    There is only one person you ever have to be, and that person is you!  Of course, you always want to be kind and good and think about others and help others in need, as well; but the idea that you have to be perfect and that being perfect is all ...

  • Sunny The Bunny

    Sometimes it isn’t easy just being who you are.  Maybe you think you are different from the other kids and you’re afraid the other kids will make fun of you, or maybe even bully you; but the thing to remember is everyone is different from eve...

  • The Anderson Girls

    Go back in time and see how things once were. Learn about the greatest generations of Americans and find out how they came to be the greatest generations of Americans. Written by the award winning author, attorney and former educator, Penelope Dya...

  • Larry The Elephant --- Just Stayin' Alive!

    At current poaching rates, many wild African species may disappear within our lifetime. This includes elephants. What many do not know about elephants is they live in families just like we do! They are the largest land mammals, and their herds con...

  • Walk Away!

    Sometimes some people can be really, really mean to you. They might even go to others and tell them things that are untrue. No one knows exactly why people do this, because it really makes no sense at all. The best thing to do is just to be kind a...

  • Be Kind!

    We all need to be kind to one another, merciful, meek and generous. Calling people names and making fun of them does not fit into this category and if it is true that the meek will inherit the earth, we need to be meek, each and every singe one of...

  • Being Selfish

    In many ways we choose who we are to be, and our very own ultimate happiness or unhappiness follows that choice. You can choose to be good, You can choose to be bad. You can also choose to be selfish, or you can choose to be unselfish. If you are ...

  • Better Is Better!

    We all need to get along in this world, and just maybe we would all get along much better if we didn't compete with others and instead concentrated on simply doing our very own personal best. Better is always better! However, somewhere along the l...

  • Snips & Snails --- For Boys Only

    Are you a boy? And if so, are you made of snips and snails and puppy dog tails? Exactly what does that mean? Ask yourself that question as you read this 'learn to read' book by the award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan.<...

  • There's No Place Like Home!

    Aristotle once said, "Happiness depends upon ourselves." But perhaps happiness really depends on home, because home is where your heart is! And if there really is no place like home, then while leaving home for a vacation may be fun, there is noth...

  • The Truth! And Nothing But The Truth

    You should always tell the truth and nothing but the truth, and you should never lie. Use this book to begin a discussion about what it means when you lie, and about how you will only hurt ourself in the end if you tell lies, because in the end no...

  • Truth Isn't Mean! And The End Never Justifies The Means

    While it may be quite true that "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom." as Thomas Jefferson said; honesty must also be tempered with kindness, meaning that no one has to say everything they are thinking, especially if what a person i...

  • Dandelions

    Meet Laura and Tammy, a couple of kids who just happen to be country girls who were shocked to find a sidewalk when they visited their city living Grandmother. Not used to sidewalks, they thought they had to walk along the paved street, because th...

  • Mittens For Christmas!

    Christmas is always a fun time of the year! Sometimes you get things that are just plain fun as gifts, and sometimes you get things that you really need as gifts. And then sometimes the things you you really need can also be fun! But that isn't th...

  • Takin' Some Time! A Kid's Guide to Alesund, Norway

    ...lesund is a town and municipality located right in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway.  It’s part of the traditional district of Sunnmøre and is the center of the ...lesund Region. This lovely Norwegian town is also a sea port widely known f...

  • Be A Light!

    Have fun practicing reading skills with this 'learn to read' book written and illustrated by the award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, that is filled with a cast of familiar Penelope Dyan characters, word recognition, w...

  • Don't Wait! And Please Do Not Procrastinate!

    If you don't procrastinate, you do not put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Can you guess what our "Nature Boy" has figured out about procrastination before you reach the end of this story?

    Written by the award winning author, attor...

  • Fancy Free! A Kid's Guide to Geiranger, Norway

    Ever Since 2005, the Geirangerfjord area has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site! And Geiranger is a place where a kid can have some fun and be amazed all at the same time at the beauty of it all! If this is what you are looking to find, t...

  • Gettin' Around! A kid's Guide to Brugge, Belgium

    Brugge is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. Brugge is often called the Venice of the North, because Brugge is a city with canals that are used for 'gettin' around'. It is thought that t...

  • A New Day!

    What does it mean when a new day has come? It means every single day brings a brand new opportunity for you to live your life to the fullest. And this is why you need to be thankful for every single day of your life! You mustn't let bullying and m...

  • Open Roads! A Kid's Guide To Eidfjord, Norway

    Eidfjord is the administrative center of Eidfjord; and it's a municipality located in Hordaland county, Norway. The village of Eidfjord is located at on the shore of the EidFjord on the inner branch of the large Hardangerfjorden. If that sounds li...

  • Rockin'! A Kid's Guide to Kinderdijke, Netherlands

    If windmills weren't put here in Kinderdijke, then the entire place would have been a bog into which a man's boots would have simply sunk! Kinderdijke is unique. It tells the story of man against nature, seeking to carve out a place in a wet and b...

  • Stand Strong!

    People are mean sometimes, and sometimes they are bullies; and this is a very hard thing to understand, because people sometimes don't like you for no good reason at all. So what do you do when someone is mean to you? Well . . . you simply stand t...

  • Windows! A Kid's Guide to Rotterdam, Netherlands

    Rotterdam, Netherlands is sometimes called the gateway to Europe, because it is a great port city and, as they say. location is everything! Rotterdam’s history goes back to 1270, when a dam was constructed in the Rotte river, after which people...

  • Ya Gotta Eat! Because Everybody's Gotta Eat

    Everybody needs to eat; but sometimes children go hungry, not because they don't like the food on their plates, but because they have no food that they even can eat. And they would be very grateful for the food that you may be refusing to eat just...

  • Be Happy!

    Happiness might be a warm puppy. Happiness might be a hug from your mother or a good night kiss. Happiness can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people, but finding true happiness is making your dreams come true. And as everyone knows, th...

  • Danger!

    Sometimes life can be scary, but there are a few things you can do to keep life a bit less scary and dangerous. This fun, 'learn to read' book talks about how you can keep your eyes open for some things that may pose a danger, and talks about how ...

  • The Future Belongs To Everyone!

    As you lay there at night in your little bed, let the dreams of your future fill up your heart and your head. You know inside of your heart, that it is really true, that both your dreams and your future begin with you!

    Use this fun 'learn t...

  • In For A Penny? Be In For A Pound!

    Love can never be bought or sold, and neither can kindness. But if you think of it as a sort of currency, then if you are in for a penny, you may as well be in for a pound; and it doesn‛t matter if the currency is in pounds or dollars or or anyt...

  • Mama Says

    The truth is the truth, and a lie is simply a lie. A lie is not a misstatement of fact. It is merely a lie, and it seems like a lot of people don't seem to be able to tell the truth. And that is a very sad thing. Maybe they are just afraid to tell...

  • Rain, Rain!

    All of life must be in balance. There is good and there is bad. There is sunshine and there is rain. Sometimes when it rains we are sad, because we can’t go outside and play; but the rain doesn’t last forever, and rain is something we all...

  • The Same!

    We are all unique individuals, but in some ways we are very much alike. We eat, and we sleep; and we have fun. And we also learn new and interesting things every single day. So when we see someone who seems different than we are, we need to celebr...

  • Bridges!

    Never burn down a bridge; and if you have a choice between building a wall or building a bridge, then open up your heart and build a bridge! As you may have guessed, we are not talking about real bridges here. We are talking about friendships and ...

  • Don't Jump!

    Think before you do anything, and especially think if someone else is telling you to do something that doesn't feel exactly right for you to do! The point is, you have your own mind, and you need to be sensible; and you need to use your mind wisel...

  • Friends!

    When someone supports you and helps you, and stands by you, even when others stand against you (because you are doing right) then you know for certain that person is truly your friend. There are few people like this in the world; and when you have...

  • The Games!

    People play games with their words and actions. Even if you are a kid, you should know right from wrong. Kids need to think before they speak, and be true to themselves. And they should always say what they mean and mean what they say, but that do...

  • Intentions!

    Sometimes someone you know may do something that is very wrong, and maybe you don't know what to do about it. This is a friend, after all. But be confident that doing the right thing is always the best thing to do; because wrong can never control ...

  • Little Miss Goody Two Shoes

    Sometimes when you are really good, people might call you a little 'Miss Goody Two Shoes'. But you shouldn't think of that as a bad thing, even if those who say it mean it as a bad thing, because it is always right to be good; and it is always com...

  • No Excuses!

    It is never a good thing when you do something wrong and then try to hide it. All you end up doing is you make a bad thing worse. Everyone knows you shouldn't look for an excuse when you do do something wrong, and you shouldn't blame someone else ...

  • Spinning!

    Knowing what is true and what isn't true is very important. So you should never assume what someone says is always true, unless it is someone you know and trust. And when people tell lies about you or someone else, just don't let that get to you. ...

  • You Decide What Is Best For You!

    Your friends should never tell you what to do. In fact, no one should ever tell you what to do except your mother and your father, or another responsible adult who is taking care of you. When it comes to some things, like your hopes and your dream...

  • Ayes & Nays

    Two or more words that sound the same, but have different meanings, or spellings (such as, to, too, and two) are a form of homonyms that are known as homophones. Words and their meanings are always fun and interesting, and so our author and illust...

  • Doing Nothing

    You can do nothing, or you can do something; and what you choose to do is always up to you. But sometimes, when you do nothing, bad things can happen . . . when you do not report something bad or wrong, for example. Because when you don't stand up...

  • Just Sing!

    Sometimes if you feel down and out and blue and sad, all you need to do is sing! There is nothing like a song, and if you just start singing a happy song, it will be very hard to stay feeling bad or sad or down and out. Sometimes life isn't easy, ...

  • Perceptions

    The word, 'perceptions' is a brand new word to add to your reading vocabulary list! And it has to do with how a person sees or perceives or believes things to be. Explore this word in reference to what is truth; because what is truth is how a pers...

  • Potatoes!

    If someone calls you a 'potato', it means you might have eyes, but you cannot see; because you have no heart. After all, we really don't see with our eyes, because we see with our minds and with our hearts!

    Use this fun, 'learn to read' book...

  • Problems

    We all have problems, but how we look at those problems is what's important. The word, 'problem' smacks of defeat; and if we look at our problems as defeat, then we automatically lose in life, and our problems become the winners. And no one should...

  • Side By Side

    We all have problems, but how we look at those problems is what's important. The word, 'problem' smacks of defeat; and if we look at our problems as defeat, then we automatically lose in life, and our problems become the winners. And no one should...

  • Bubbles

    Bubbles are fun, and there is nothing as fun as an entire bath full of bubbles! And . . . there are bubbles, and there are bubbles! You might think you can't hide inside of a bubble; but the truth is that sometimes you not only can, but you do! An...

  • Don't Give Up!

    There are dreams, and then there are dreams. If your dream is about doing good and about helping others, then you are on the right track. And if you are only thinking about yourself and what you can get for yourself or keep for yourself, then you ...

  • Fighting Words

    Kids like to say and think they (and everyone else) can say anything they want to say; because (after all) this is a free country. And a kid worth his salt will be quick to tell you this! But freedom of speech under the First Amendment of the Cons...

  • It's Tuesday!

    It is Tuesday, and there are lots of things a boy can do on Tuesday! And if you play hard, then you just may need to scrub hard! And if you don't believe me, you can just ask the elephant or the monkey, or the cow or the sheep, or even the wise ol...

  • Life's Colors

    All of life is one glorious and beautiful display of color; so just like the flowers, the birds and the bees, the elephants, the monkeys and the trees, we are all different. We all come in different shapes and colors and sizes, with different fait...

  • Try Love!

    With all of the talk about nationalism and globalism, which are very difficult concepts for kids to understand, we are all missing something important! And that is the concept of love and what love means. Use this book to think about this very imp...

  • Victory!

    This is a very confusing time, growing up; and things that have to do with what is right and what is wrong, make life even more confusing! Use this book to think about what is right and what is wrong, and take some time to think about the word 'vi...

  • All Alone!

    You always want to be kind and you always want to share, and sharing can be as simple as offering another person a chair!

    This is a very simple thing to do; and somehow many people, even grown up people, seem to forget this all the time. A...

  • Be Grateful

    Think about what you have instead of what you don't have. Decide the glass isn't half empty, but that the glass is half full. In other words, be grateful for what you have, and stop thinking about what you don't have. After all, it is really true ...

  • Blessings!

    Maybe your mom and dad have told you about the olden days and about how you have so much more than they had when they were kids. You like the stories; but you still want those expensive tennis shoes, so you can be just like your friends. This book...

  • Cheating! For Boys Only

    It is never a good thing to cheat. And we should be careful whose example we follow when it comes to right and wrong; and that's because it is good to do right, and it is always bad to do what is wrong! Sometimes this might not be as easy to under...

  • A New Year!

    It's true! You are the future; and who you are, and who you will be, is what the future will be that lies ahead. And so when you do whatever it is that you decide to do in the future, please remember what I have said, and then remember the familia...

  • Only Love!

    Love is everything, and all this world really needs is love, and the reason for that is that if we all loved one another with love that was unconditional, all of the problems of the world would be solved, absolutely and once and for all! This book...

  • The World

    What do you have if you gain the world, but you give up your soul? The answer is that you will have nothing! And even the cow, the horse, the elephant, the bee, the sheep, the cat and the dog, the giraffe, and the monkey in the apple tree with thi...

  • Go Along With The Flow!

    Visit some fun and familiar Penelope Dyan characters who are here to impart some of their special kind of wisdom to you about the subject of relaxing and going with the flow, as you build your reading vocabulary through word recognition, word repe...

  • Going Bananas! A Kid's Guide to Puerto Limon, Costa Rica

    Puerto Limon, one of the most picturesque places in Costa Rica, sits right between Nicaragua and Panama, with lots of coconut trees, and (of course) bananas!  And if you are lucky, you might see a monkey; and you might even see even  a sloth han...

  • Locks & No Bagels! A Kid's Guide To The Panama Canal

    The Panama Canal,  a man-made waterway in Panama, connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. It cuts  across the Isthmus of Panama, serving maritime trade. The canal locks at each end actually lift ships up to Gatun Lake, a man-made lak...

  • Lovin' Aruba! A Kid's Guide To Oranjestad, Aruba

    Aruba is a tiny Dutch Caribbean island that sits off the coast of Venezuela; and Oranjestad, a Dutch name, translated, means “Orange Town” . . . although it should be noted that our author and photographer didn’t actually see any oranges gro...

  • That's Life!

    Life is full of surprises and ups and downs.  Sometimes good things happen; and sometimes bad things happen, just like what happens in this book when a boy falls down and skins his knee!  Think about the good things and the bad things that happe...

  • Shopping Around! A Kid's Guide To Colon, Panama

    Colón, Panama is a city and a seaport in Panama, next to the Caribbean Sea, near the Atlantic's entrance to the Panama Canal. The capital of Panama's Colón Province, it is commonly known as Panama's 'second city', meaning it happens to be the se...

  • Compromise!

    Compromise is a very big word, and it is a great word to add to a kid’s reading vocabulary!  Compromising means that you think about and consider both sides of something about which two or more people may disagree, and then you find a solution ...

  • Apologize!

    If you hurt somebody’s feelings, even if you really didn’t mean to hurt their feelings, it is always a very good thing if you apologize.  And one thing you should never do, is to say mean things to others  or to call them mean names.  The t...

  • Speak Up! But Don't Forget To Dance!

    When you see a wrong or hear a wrong, you should always speak up for what is right; because speaking up for what is right is never wrong.  Like the three monkeys, you should hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil!  And if you don’t know a...

  • Ben's Sister

    One day Ben got to thinking about his sister, Scarlett.  And he wandered who or what she would grow up to be.  This was  a very big thought, and so he decided to ask a few of his friends what they thought about this.  In the end, he found out ...

  • Do Not Spit! Or Yell Or Throw Things

    Sometimes good people do bad things, but there is never any excuse for having bad manners; and having bad manners is not a good thing.  You should never spit at another person or throw things at them or yell at them for no reason.  This is bad m...

  • Boots

    Some boots are made for walkin’, and some boots are meant to sit firmly at the sides of a horse!  Learn all about Tammy’s bright red boots and about how she loved to ride out under the sun on her beloved horse, Sassy.

    Written by the awa...

  • Americans

    The very most important thing to remember about being an American is that we are all different and unique.  And the next  thing we need to remember is that we all need to take care of one another, no matter what!  And, of course, it goes withou...

  • Everything!

    Love is everything, and no one can ever have enough love.  Things and stuff are just things and stuff that gather dust and cobwebs in corners.  But love never gathers dust and cobwebs in the corners of your heart!  See what the elephant has to ...

  • Feliz Navidad

    Christmas is always a fun time of year.  But what we need to remember about Christmas is  that its not the gifts we get  that matter, it’s the meaning behind the giving.  You see, it isn’t the size or the cost of the gift that counts.  Wh...

  • Petula --- Who Happens To Be A Melting Pot

    People need to love and accept each other just the way they are!  You see, we are all different; and our differences and  the ways we are different from one another happen to be what makes us stronger as a whole!  And if you don’t believe thi...

  • Play Fair!

    When you win anything by cheating or by not playing fair, the truth is that you are a loser and that you haven’t really won anything at all.  And if you ask the elephant, she will tell you this is so!  No one likes a cheater, even if they like...

  • Reflections!

    The past is more than the past, because the past combines with the present and the future to make up the total of our lives.  In other words, we are merely the sum total of all of the parts of our lives that make up the whole; and while this may ...

  • Gifts!

    We all have special gifts, and we are all gifts!  Time is a gift; and the present is a present, which is also a gift!  You don’t need to be jealous if someone has a special gift you would like to be yours.  What you need to do is to be happy ...

  • People!

    The most important thing to remember about people is that everyone is different.  And while you may think it is better just to blend in and be like everyone else, this is really not a good idea. The reason this isn’t a good idea is because you ...

  • Right!

    Instead of having to say that you’re sorry for things that are wrong that you might say and/or do, wouldn’t it be so much  easier to do the right thing in the first place?  After all, even the elephant knows there is right and there is wrong...

  • Walls

    You should never hide behind a wall, because that means you aren’t interacting with others.  And sometimes a wall isn’t a physical wall, it is the wall you built up yourself; and that wall exists right there in your heart.  Walls separate pe...

  • Be Strong When The World Is Cruel

    The secret to being strong when someone is bullying you and being oh so mean, is knowing when you should simply turn the other cheek and walk away.  However, this does not mean  that you don’t stand up against wrong for what is good and just a...

  • Everything Is Not About Money!

    Everything in life is not about money.  The greatest president we have ever had in the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln, grew up in a log cabin, after all.  Have we strayed so far from what is right and just and good that we believe mon...

  • Frog Chasing And Other Fine Pursuits!

    You might think there is nothing fun that you can do. This might make you feel kind of sad. But the truth is, having fun is something different for everyone; and what may seem like fun for one person may not be fun for another person. And sometime...

  • Honesty Is The Very Best Policy

    Honesty is the word of today, and this is honestly true. Think about the meaning of this word and what it means; and if you aren't sure about its meaning, then ask your mom or your dad, or you can ask the elephant or the monkey! This book is about...

  • The Shut Door!

    If you hide in a room behind a shut door, the truth is you will simply miss out on your life.  Even if this means you will avoid some of life’s problems as they may arise, you will also be shutting the door to all of life’s joy and surprises....

  • Two Wrongs Never Make A Right!

    Some things are just plainly wrong. Some things are simply just plainly right.  And no matter how hard you may try, two wrongs never make anything right. So when you happen to make a mistake and do something wrong, or even if you did something wr...

  • The World Is Worth Saving!

    We need to take care of the world, just like we need to take care of one another.  Because, after all, we are truly the world.  Climate change is scary; and while you may think you are just a kid and can’t do much to change what is happening, ...

  • Turn The Other Cheek If It Is Peace That You Seek

    You should always stand up for what is right, because right must always prevail over wrong! However, you must choose your battles carefully; because some things simply really do not matter, like when someone calls you a bad name or when someone sa...

  • What Would You Do If You Happened To Be A Kangaroo?

    Now, while you may know you could never, ever be a kangaroo, it's still fun to think about what you might do if you happened to actually be a kangaroo. Even the elephant won't be able to tell you that; because, after all, she is just an elephant. ...

  • Wouldn't It Be Funny If You Happened To Be A Bunny?

    It's always fun to pretend and to think about being someone or something other than who you really are. But what we all need to remember when we are pretending to be someone or something other than who we really are, is that we are all special jus...

  • Wouldn't You Care If You Happened To Be A Polar Bear?

    We all need to take note and to care about climate change, and we need to remember there really is something we can do to help our world when it comes to climate change. We don't need to have a 'throw away' society; and we need to recycle, and reu...

  • You Don't Need More!

    Things are just things, and stuff is just stuff! And stuff is temporary. It's just a collection of things, and things never last. If you don't believe me about this, you can always ask the elephant, or the lion, or any of the other fun and familia...

  • About Johnny --- For Boys Only

    Sometimes boys do stuff just because they are boys, and that's okay. The stuff they do is sometimes mischievous and kind of bad, and sometimes the stuff they do is wonderful and loving and very good! And I suppose it is true that boys will simply ...

  • Hating Others Is Not A Good Thing!

    When you hate someone, it is not a good thing. And when someone hates you, and says mean things about you, or does mean things to you, this can make you very sad, maybe even angry. Hate is not only wrong, it is a complete waste of time! And this i...

  • Loving Others Is A Very Good Thing!

    We need to stop the hate and bring in the love! And we need to follow the golden Rule and do unto others as we would have them do unto us. And since words are merely words, we need to not only profess love, we need to act toward others in love! An...

  • My Brother's Keeper

    We are all family, and this is because we are all children of Mother Earth. This means we need to and must take care of this blue planet we call earth, and it also means we need to take care of one another; because we are all sisters and brothers!...

  • We Are One! It's Absolutely & Positively True!

    We are all one; because we are quite simply (each of us) part of the great human race. And because we are a part of that great big family we call the human race, we need to take care of one another with love and understanding and compassion!Written a...

  • What Would You Do?

    This is a fun story based on something that really happened once upon a time! The story is also intended to make you think about what you would or might do in a certain situation if you found a real live bear sitting on top of your car! This book ...

  • A Horse Named Freddie!

    Whether you are a horse named Freddie, or whether you are simply you, you need to aways be the person you are! Now while that may seem obvious, because you can't be a horse when you are a boy or a girl, maybe some things aren't so very clear. Thin...

  • Just Do It! It's The Polite Thing To Do!

    Sometimes people forget to be polite. Sometimes they just forget what they promised they would do. And sometimes this can make someone like Scarlett very, very sad. Think about what it means to others when you say you are going to do something, and t...

  • You're The World! And You Can Change It!

    Greta Thunberg is someone who is making a difference. And she has stood up and made her voice heard to all of the great leaders of this world! You can make a difference too. All you have to do is speak up and do what is just and right and good. Yo...

  • Be Strong! And Have Courage!

    Be strong and have courage, because the world quite simply needs for all of us to be strong and to have courage. And if you are a kid in this world, you have to take on a special fight for what is good, and for what is just, and for what is right. An...

  • Busy Beaver! Even A Beaver Needs Rest!

    Set your goals and go for them! Stand up for what is just and right and good, but don't forget to take a well needed rest. Because if you don't ever stop to sleep and rest, everyone knows you can't do your very best. And your very best is what you al...

  • It Is Not Okay! Just Ask The Elephant!

    We all need to stand up for what is just and right and good. And it is never okay to tell a lie or to do other bad things! And when we see something that is bad, and not good, we need to speak up for what is just and right and good! And as to this, n...

  • Katie Koala! High Up In The Eucalyptus Tree!

    Our climate is changing, and not in a good way! And the fact is, we started it! And while we aren’t directly responsible for those who pollute our beautiful planet through industry, we are (in the end) actually responsible for its demise; becau...

  • Love Wins! As it Always Must!

    Love is a glorious thing; and when it comes to life, love always wins, as it must. And this means if we want to win in this life, we must always do what is just and good and right. Now, while this may seem like a very big concept, it is never to earl...

  • You Got This! All You Have To Do Is Try!

    It is very true that you can do absolutely anything you put you mind to doing. And it’s also true that by doing that, this is how a kid can make his or her dreams come true! And this makes sense, because you can’t make anything happen whe...

  • Forget Me Nots! Things Not To Be Forgotten!

    Some things should never be forgotten simply because they are too important to forget! And one thing we should never forget is that we need to practice conservation; because this is not only important to us, it is also important to all of the many cr...

  • Funny Bunny -- Number Thirty-Two!

    Meet Funny Bunny, Number Thirty-two; and find out why he signed up to run in a race, and then changed his mind and didn’t want to run in the race at all. Then find out exactly what the elephant and what some of the other fun, familiar Penelope ...

  • It Takes Two -- If You Want to Tango!

    While it is true that you can dance all alone, it always takes two to tango, or to rumba or to do the fox trot, even if you can tap dance solo! And while you may not always want to dance, it is always better to dance than to fight; because fighting (...

  • Never Look Back! Look Straight Ahead!

    Poets have written about it! Songs have been sung about it! And even the elephant and the giraffe have talked about it! No matter how gloomy the day seems, when tomorrow comes, today will simply be your yesterday. And so what you need to do (and you ...

  • Stop the Liars! Stop Climate Change & Fires!

    Climate change is real; and unless we want our planet to die right before our own two eyes, we need to do something about it! That’s the bad news. The good news is that we absolutely can do something about it! And if everyone just does a small ...

  • Friendship!

    A friend is a friend until the very end. And true friendship expects nothing in return. You see, it doesn’t matter if the person you help or are a friend to is here today and then is gone tomorrow, what matters is your act of friendship, and th...

  • Not Alone!

    You are never really alone, even if you feel like you are all alone, even if you have to stay home, and even if you can’t go to school or visit with your friends; because home is where your heart is, and as long as you have love in your heart f...

  • Your Friends Are Also Family

    True friends will stand by your side, no matter what! They will be there with you through thick and through thin. This is because true friends are those who love you. And having a true friend is just like having another family member! And this is why...

  • Acceptance!

    We need to love one another as we love ourselves, and this means we must accept who we are and be exactly who we were meant to be! You might want to grow up and be just like your mother or your father, but both of them will simply agree with the elep...

  • Miracles!

    We are all different. We come in many sizes and shapes. So why can’t we seem to get along with one another? There is absolutely no reason we can’t! And author, Penelope Dyan, along with a host of her fun and familiar characters, is here t...

  • Be Thankful!

    Everyone needs to be thankful for what they have; because no matter how little you may think you have, no matter what troubles may befall you, there is aways someone who is worse off than you are! And this is the reason why we all should be thankful ...

  • My Great Grandma!

    Grandmas and great grandmas are simply great! In fact, the heroine of this fun 'learn to read' book just happens to think that her great grandma is the best! Think about this as you read this book, guided through its pages by a host of fun and famili...

  • What You See Is What You'll Get!

    Everything you really see in life depends on how you look at it. And everyone knows there are two sides to everything. There’s good, and there is bad. There’s right and there is wrong. You can look for what is bad in your life, or you can...

  • Happenstance----Things Aways Happen For A Reason!

    Happenstance is something that you may think just happens, but not everything is just happenstance. Sometimes things happen for a reason you may not understand. And the secret is that you need to look beyond what you think you may see, and instead lo...

  • It Will Take Time . . . But We Will All Be Fine!

    Sometimes life can be a bit scary, but if we do what we are supposed to do, and if we all work together, we will find that rainbow that always comes after the rain! Now, this may seem like a very serious concept for a kid, but kids do know when thing...

  • Plenty O' Penguins . . .For Now, My Dear!

    You might think there is nothing that you can do about global warming, but then you would be wrong! Even if we are one person, together we are a massive crowd; and together our single voices become very loud. This book is meant to get you thinking ab...

  • Your Moment --- This Is The Time For Goodness!

    A lot of people say you should ‘live in the moment’, but isn’t every moment your moment? And if every moment is your moment, then you should live every moment of every day to the very fullest! And you should also make sure every mom...

  • The Ends . . . Do Not Justify The Means!

    The ‘ends’ never justify the ‘means’ when the ‘means’ mean you have done something bad to get to those ends! And all of the fun and familiar Penelope Dyan characters in this book will tell you that two (or more) wr...

  • Look Ahead . . . And Never, Ever Look Back!

    You should always look ahead, and you should never look back; because the future always holds the promise of things that will soon come, and the past will always stay in the past. But to make things even more confusing, after tomorrow comes (and is a...

  • What Goes Around . . . Really Does Come Around!

    It has been the experience of not only the elephant, but also of all of the other fun and familiar characters in this fun, ‘learn to read’ book filled with word recognition, and word repetition and rhyme, that what goes around really does...

  • Why Walk . . . When You Can Dance?

    Why walk when you can dance? And why sit when you can stand? And do you need a reason to dance, or can you simply dance for no reason at all? The elephant, and all of the fun and familiar Penelope Dyan characters will remind you why you should really...

  • The Worst Lies . . . Are Lies You Tell Yourself!

    The worst lies are always the lies you tell yourself, because while you may be able to fool some of the people some of the time, you can’t fool all of the people all of the time; and the one person you simply cannot fool is the person who is yo...

  • You Are Wrong . . . Until You Are Right!

    No one can be right all of the time. However, there is a huge difference from doing right and doing wrong, and from simply making a mistake and getting something wrong. And this is why you are sometimes wrong until you are right.Words are funny thing...

  • You'll Never Know . . . If You Don't Try!

    You will never know if you can do a thing if you never try to do it! And if you want your dreams to come true, you will never know if they can come true if you don’t try. So never, ever say you can’t do something. It’s simple! &lsqu...

  • Blueprints For The Future

    Blueprints are the plans people who build homes and other sorts of buildings follow when they build those things. Since the plans are on paper, and some plans used to be on blue paper, these kinds of plans are called blueprints. However, there are ot...

  • Don't Stir Up The Hornet's Nest!

    Don't stir up the hornet's nest is an idiom that dates back to the 1700's. It references to not making any unnecessary trouble for others, which in turn can only cause you trouble. So, the question becomes, 'when is it actually necessary to cause tro...

  • Give 'Em Pumpkin To Talk About!

    Sometimes some people just simply aren't so nice. They may talk about you and say mean things about you that simply are not true. So when that happens, what do you do? If you ask the elephant or any of the other fun and familiar Penelope Dyan charact...

  • Never Judge A Book By Its Cover!

    You should never, ever judge a book by it's cover, especially if that book is a real life person! And you always also need to remember that beauty you see on the outside is only skin deep, and this is because true beauty shines out from what you have...

  • There's No End . . . If You Never Begin!

    Everything has a beginning and an ending, and you can't have one without the other! And you will never know what you can do unless you begin! So if you want to do something, your first step begins at the beginning! This applies to everything you may ...

  • Win Or Lose . . .Follow The Rules!

    Win or lose, all that matters is how yo play the game! And this is true, whether you are playing a game of ball, or having fun in the game of life! And (of course) you should never cheat, and you should always follow all the rules. And a host of fun ...

  • You Are Right . . . Until You Are Wrong!

    This a companion book (that also stands alone) to Penelope Dyan's book, 'You Are Wrong . . . Until You Are Right! Use this book, and all of the other Penelope Dyan 'learn to read' books, to build reading word vocabulary and reading skills, as you thi...

  • You Can't Hide An Elephant In A Tree!

    Some things simply can't be hidden from view. And the most important thing that can't be hidden really does happen to be me and you! And since you can't hide who you really are from others, you just might as well not hide from yourself. Because somet...

  • Once Upon A Time . . . There Was A Pig

    We could almost call this story, 'Once Upon A Pig'; because this story is (after all) all about a pig! But this story is about much more than that! This is a story that tells the story of one pig who simply did not get what he wanted, and reminds us ...

  • Only As Good As Your Word

    It is very true that you are only as good as your word. And this is why you should always mean what you say and say what you mean, and always, always tell the truth, and always be true to your word. In other words, tell the truth; and if you say you ...

  • Smarty Pants

    No one can be right all of the time. However being right and being wrong is quite different from doing what is right and doing what is wrong. And . . . while we may be right about something, or wrong about something, we should always do what is right...

  • United We Stand . . . And Divided We Fall!

    Sometimes we need to simply stand up together! And that sometimes just happens to be when we are standing up for what is just and right and good! And this is because wrong can only be fought by right, and good is the only way to fight evil! And that ...

  • A Christmas State of Mind

    Christmas isn't a place or a time. Christmas is the story of love, and love is something that is timeless. So even if you can't be with those you love, that doesn't mean that you can have no Christmas! And besides, as the elephant clearly knows, we s...

  • The Day After Christmas

    Christmas is all about giving; and if we are going to give, then we need to think about others. Thinking about others means more than giving them gifts. It means sometimes we need to sacrifice. Sometimes we even need to stay apart, even though it is ...

  • If You Wrestle With A Pig . . . You'll Get Dirty!

    Sometimes you may feel like you need to wrestle with one problem or another, but you usually do that right in your own head. One thing you never really want to do is to wrestle with a pig; because if you wrestle with a pig, one thing is very, very, v...

  • It's A Shot In The Arm!

    vIt's never fun to get a shot in the arm; but sometimes we just need to be brave, and we need to do what needs to be done. And this is because we are all one people; and (in this case) what is good for one of us (the shots in the arm) is good for us ...

  • It's Not A Question . . . Of If Or Even Of When!

    One thing always leads to another, and for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction! And this is why it is never really truly a question of if or even of hen when it comes to making choices about what you choose to say or to do! And this ...

  • The Needs Of The Many

    The needs of the many should always outweigh the wants and desires of the few. However, knowing this is right does not make it so! We all need to think about what is means to care and to share, and why it is true that we all need to follow the 'Golde...

  • A Brand New Day! A Brand New Year!

    This book was written on the eve of a brand new year, but its lesson can be applied to every day of every single year! This book is meant to get kids thinking and talking about the world around themselves, and it reminds kids everywhere about the les...

  • A Broken Clock Is Right Twice A Day!

    It's always good to listen to others, because even a broken clock is right twice a day! But the main thing you really need to do is to listen to the opinions of others, even if they do differ from your own opinions, and then think about what you are ...

  • Step Up! And Take A Stand!

    We should always do what is just and right and good, and sometimes we need to simply step up for honor and decency and respect. And believe it or not, there are some grown-ups who never learn these things; and while this may seem like a lot of things...

  • A True Friend . . . Is Not A Means To An End!

    Sometimes you may think someone is your friend. And maybe they are your friend, and maybe really aren't your friend. It is very sad, but sometimes someone who you thought was your friend just wanted something from you that only you could give them; o...

  • Be An Example In All You Say And Do!

    You should always mean what you say and say what you mean and do what is just and right and good! And that also means you are being a living example of what is just and right and good! And when you see or hear something wrong, you need to speak up fo...

  • Off To Mars . . . Flying Through All Those Stars!

    Life should be all about two things, helping others and making your dreams come true. And you should always work hard to make your dreams come true, because making your dreams come true is really, truly up to you! This is a story about a dream, and i...

  • Someone Cares . . . Because You Are You!

    We all need to care about one another; but sometimes when we get to feeling down, or when we are sick, we forget that we are loved. We forget that someone cares. This is a book for you to share with others to let them know that you care about them . ...

  • The Truth Opens Eyes And Hearts!

    We all need to believe in the truth. The question is, What is the truth? Sometimes the truth is as simple as the nose on your face, and if you can find the nose on your face, then you can find the truth. But there is one important truth that we all r...

  • Belonging!

    No matter what you may think, you really do belong, and you do not have to even be a part of, or go along with the crowd; because people love you for the person you are! And when someone loves you, you simply belong. (If you don't believe me, you can...

  • Some People Never Really Do Appreciate You!

    Sometimes you just might feel like no one appreciates or cares about you, no matter what you did to help others, or what you might do. It might make you feel like you are just a nobody, as you watch your friend go off with another kid to play who isn...

  • Stay Safe! Stay Home! Stay Strong!

    Sometimes we get frustrated, because we just want to do what we want to do! And instead of being able to just do what we want to do, we find out we simply can't! However, right now there are good reasons for this, because when we all follow the rules...

  • Words Matter . . . Just Like Sticks And Stones!

    You might think you can just say whatever you want, because only sticks and stones can break bones. However, this quite simply, simply isn't true. You see, you can break someone's heart with what you say (especially if you are making fun of someone o...

  • Freedom Doesn't Mean You Can Do Anything!

    You might think freedom means you can do anything you want to do, but this quite simply is not true. Men and women have fought for the freedom we now enjoy, and that freedom came to us at a very great cost. Sometimes we must sacrifice for freedom. An...

  • Sharing Is Caring . . . So Show That You Care!

    Some people (kids and adults alike) are selfish. They only think about what they have, how much they can get, and how they can keep what they have all to themselves! They forget about the act of sharing and what it means to share. They forget that sh...

  • Sometimes Life Means Sacrifice!

    Sometimes in life we all need to sacrifice, and this means we can't always do every single little thing we might want to do, especially if what we want to do doesn't comport or comply with the greater good for us all. And while this may seem like a d...

  • Time Flies

    Everyone says that time flies if you are having fun, but the truth is . . . time flies whether or not you are having fun. So it is important to make the most of every single moment of every single day! Of course, this means doing what is just and rig...

  • Will I ever See A Red Polka Dotted Tree?

    Inspired by Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama, who created and 'planted' polka dotted trees and enormous dancing pumpkins across the New York Botanical Garden, amongst a variety of flowered sculptures and water lilies and grasses, Penelope Dyan, like our...

  • The End Of The Whine!

    It seems like some people just like to whine and complain about things, and for some people having everything just isn't enough! All they seem to want is more and more, and it doesn't matter how much more they get, they just are not satisfied!Ask you...

  • Helping Ohers Is Its Own Reward

    Helping others really is its own reward, and a 'thank you' and a smile really is worth more than silver or gold. And doing what is good and right and good is something each one of us needs to do in order to make this world a better place. Now, you ma...

  • Kindness Is Always The Very Best Policy!

    Kindness is always the very best policy, and everyone should agree about that! But sometimes, some people either don't agree or they simply do not know what it means to be kind. And this is exactly why our heroine is here to tell you, along with all ...

  • Nothing Is Sometimes Everything!

    Being rich has nothing to do with what you have in material things! And this is because you are only truly rich if you are rich at heart. And this is exactly why nothing is sometimes everything. You see, the only thing that really, truly matters in t...

  • The One & Only Wanna be Bee

    If you 'wanna be' something, then the best thing you can be is yourself! And this is because the future is quite simply yours to shape in any way you want! However, if you aren't true to yourself and to your very own dreams, then you won't ever be th...

  • Out Of Luck Rubber Duck

    Always be happy with the person who is you, and never forget how very lucky you just happen to be just to be you! Never forget you are special just the way you are; and please don't try to change who and what you are, like the rubber duck in this sto...

  • Walk In Your Very Own Shoes!

    Everyone says you need to walk in the shoes of another to understand that person. But there is another pair of shoes you need to also walk in, and that pair of shoes is your very own pair of shoes! And as William Shakespeare said, To thine own self b...

  • The Beginning Of A Great Big Smile

    You have to think happy to be happy! So concentrate on and remember all the things that make you happy, and that have made you happy; and that will be the beginning of a great big smile! And the elephant and all of the fun, familiar Penelope Dyan cha...

  • Choose To Be Happy!

    There are all sorts of choices we all have to make in life. We need to choose right from wrong. We need to choose doing what is just and right and good over what is bad. But the easiest choice we can ever make is choosing to be happy instead of choos...

  • A Great Day To Be Pink!

    Think about what it means to be pink! And ask yourself about what having an absolutely wonderful pink day would mean to you! Now why that may seem like a silly thing to think about, having an absolutely wonderful pink day really, truly means somethin...

  • It's A Walk In The Park

    Life should always be a walk in the park! And it will be if you do what is just right and good and to yourself be true! And a host of fun and familiar Penelope Dyan characters (who will guide you through this book) couldn't agree more! So turn each p...

  • Love Makes Things Beautiful

    Love is the gift that costs you nothing, but means everything!And when you look at life with eyes of love, the whole wide world is beautiful! Think about what it means to love, and think about why love makes the world go around and around and around,...

  • Pretty Inside Means Pretty Outside

    Pretty always is as pretty does! And true beauty really, truly does come from within your heart! And if you are good and kind and do what is just and right, the beauty you have within will shine for the entire world to see! And if you don't believe m...

  • A Single Hug Means More Than Money

    Love trumps everything! And there is nothing as healing or as wonderful as a great big hug! And if you don't believe me, you can just ask the elephant or any of the other fun and familiar Penelope Dyan characters that you will find in this oh so fun,...

  • The Elephant In The Room

    There is always the elephant in the room (it seems) telling you what to do and what not to do. But when it comes to good manners and how a kid needs to behave (in fact, how everyone really needs to behave) our elephant will tell you there is really o...

  • Every Day Can Be A Sunshine Day!

    Every single day can be and should be a sunshine day, even when the skies are gray and cloudy, and even when it happens to be raining. And while that may sound like that is simply an impossibility, the truth is that all of life is merely how you thin...

  • Tomorrow Is A Brand New Day!

    Yes, life has obstacles and storms. Sometimes we just have a bad day or two, or maybe we even have what feels like a bad week. The thing to remember about these storms of life, no matter how bad they may seem, is that 'this too will pass'; and tomorr...

  • The Truth Is Never Out Of Style!

    Everyone should tell the truth, because it is true that the truth will always set you free! And this is because if you lie and never tell the truth, or even if you lie a little bit, you are not being true to yourself. And everyone knows you should ne...

  • Don't Ask! Please Wear A Mask!

    When you wear a mask you are not only protecting yourself, you are also protecting others. And if you care about others then you want to do what is best to keep them safe; and if they care about you . . . they want to do what is best to keep you safe...

  • I'm Pink! But Sometimes I Feel Blue!

    Sometimes you might feel sad. Some people call that being blue. You might forget what it feels like to be happy, but there is something that you can do so that you don't feel blue. The flamingo wanted to know what that something was, because she just...

  • The Mouse That Stole The Cheese

    You shouldn't ever just take what you need. You should ask if you need something, and you should always say please. You might be surprised how willing others are to share with you, and never be afraid to ask for what you need. Just ask the elephant i...

  • What You Do Is Up To You!

    You should always choose wisely in whatever you may do, and that means choosing what is just and right and good, and not choosing to do things that are bad. The elephant will tell you this is true; and if you decide to choose to do things that are ba...

  • The Lightning Is Frightening!

    You can hear thunder and you can have lightning even when the sky is blue, and while we all would prefer the sky remain sunny and calm and blue, sometimes the sky isn't so calm; and then we may hear thunder and see lightning. And Lightning can be fri...

  • The Way Of The Dodo Bird

    Research tells us extinctions have been a natural part of our world's evolution Shockingly, it is estimated that more than 99% of the four billion species evolved on Earth are extinct. And (most importantly) it is also estimated that at least nine hu...

  • When Things Sometimes Go Wrong

    It's simple! When things go wrong, sing a song! Because when you're singing a song you just can't help chasing the blues away. And besides, kids are meant to be kids! Kids are not meant to worry about things! Kids are meant to have fun . . . and of c...

  • The Best Gifts Of Christmas!

    The best things in life really are free; and when it comes to Christmas the very best gifts you can give another person can be counted on one hand, because they number exactly three! Of course you may be able to think of some more gifts that are free...

  • A Duck By Any Other Name

    A duck by any other name is still a duck, and a rose by any other name is still a rose! So it follows that you and I by any other name are simply who we are; so it doesn't matter if people call us names, because no one can change who we are. And this...

  • I Once Knew A Kangaroo!

    Helping others is always the right thing to do; because (as we all know) a friend in need is a friend indeed! And helping others is always a good thing. And it is also the way you can show others the love for them that you have in your heart. And so ...

  • Slow Down And Make Time Last!

    Sometimes kids get just caught up in things; and even kids (just like their moms and dads) can forget to simply slow down and enjoy the moment. And enjoying every moment of our lives is something very important that we all need to do if we want to ma...

  • Three Birds Of A Feather!

    Like the three birds of a feather in this story, we are all basically alike on the inside, even though we look different on the outside. So, there really isn't any reason we can't all love and care for one another, and like these three birds of a fea...

  • The Beautiful Things In Life!

    The most beautiful things in life simply cannot be bought, because they aren't for sale! The most beautiful things in life that you will ever find are absolutely free! They're just people like you and me! They are the family you love and who love you...

  • Don't Go Down The Rabbit's Hole!

    It doesn't matter who you are. The most important thing you need to be is yourself. And that doesn't mean you need to agree with everything you hear, or do everything your friends want you to do; because sometimes even a friend might want you to do s...

  • A Nose That's Always In A Book

    It's not a bad thing to always have your nose in a book! And it certainly is much better to have your nose in a book than to have your nose in someone else's business! The elephant will tell you this is true, and so will all the other fun characters ...

  • A Turtle Whose Name Is Tommy

    Sometimes a person can learn a lot from a friend, even if that friend happens to be a turtle whose name is Tommy. And when the elephant agrees with your friend, the turtle whose name happens to be Tommy, that means you probably really should listen t...

  • Your Life Is A Story You Must Write!

    Your life began the moment you were born, and it was after that when your story began! And no matter who you are, your life is a story only you can write; because when you are born you are an empty slate full of many opportunities and many, many choi...

  • Even Boys Sometimes Need To Cry! For Boys Only ?

    Sometimes everyone needs a good, long cry; and boys are no different from anyone else! Let's face it, sometimes other people are simply mean to you; and sometimes you may just feel frustrated at the entire world! And other times, you may cry simply b...

  • The Hand Is Not Better Than The Foot!

    There is a lot going on in this world of ours; and one thing is very true, and that is that united we stand, and divided we fall! You see, we are all (each one of us) simply a part of the great body of the great human race; and we all really do have ...

  • I Fight And Conquer Every Single Day!

    This book was written especially for kids who happen to be hospital kids, because even hospital kids have dreams! And to get to those dreams they must fight and conquer every single day! They know the names of almost all of the doctors and all of the...

  • Remember Every Second Of Your Life!

    Your life is a story only you can write, and you should also remember your story as it unfolds. That means you should remember every single minute, every single second, every single hour of every single day! You see, you are the sum of all of the sec...

  • Ticktock Goes The Clock!

    Grown-ups sometimes talk about something they often call their legacies, and what they mean by that is that they want to leave behind them. You see, they want to leave their mark on the world, so that they will always be remembered. And the thing abo...

  • Wake Up And Smell The Roses!

    We all need to take the time to smell the roses! And if we have hope in our hearts, we can see the world as it should be seen . . . through rose-colored glasses! And there are three other things we also need to have in order to see the world as it sh...

  • I Promise To Always Be Good!

    We always want to be the very best we can be; and even though we may try very hard to always be good, we need to remember that no one is perfect, and that sometimes we just might make the wrong choices, no matter how hard we try not to do that! And i...

  • Mud Pies And Sandcastles!

    Run outside in the sun! Watch the falling rain! Make mud pies for your friends, and build sandcastles on the beach as you sit in the sand! This is what every kid should do! And if you don't believe me, you can ask the elephant, or any of the other fu...

  • Never Forget To Follow Your Heart!

    If you have a good heart, then please follow your heart and let your heart lead your way. Fill your heart with goodness, and love and light. Give to others generously, and always love others with all of your heart, even if they don't love you in retu...

  • Treasure Is Where You Find It!

    A treasure hunt is always fun, but where do you begin? The elephant knows exactly where to look! True treasure begins in your heart, and you don't need to look any further than right there! You see, treasure is where you find it; and the payoff begin...

  • A Trip To Tornado Alley

    Pamela Hillan and Penelope Dyan, lifelong friends who used to like to pretend they were in a Nancy Drew book when they were kids, are back again, all grown up (and then some); and they are still pretending! And this is exactly why the Jan and Jenny b...

  • Hugs Can Heal A Lonely Heart!

    Sometimes some people may feel very sad because they are lonely. Maybe you have felt sad and lonely at one time or another as well, and you only wanted one thing. You wanted to feel like someone cared about you. And in your heart you felt like you we...

  • It Matters What You Do And Don't Do!

    It matters what you say and what you do, and you probably know that very well. However, it also matters what you don't say and what you don't do! You see, if you believe in goodness and justice and light, you need to both speak up and stand up for go...

  • The Message In The Bottle

    Pamela Hillan and Penelope Dyan, lifelong friends who used to like to pretend they were in a Nancy Drew book when they were kids, are back again, all grown up (and then some); and they are still pretending! And this is exactly why the Jan and Jenny b...

  • The Mystery At Lake Tahoe

    Pamela Hillan and Penelope Dyan, lifelong friends who used to like to pretend they were in a Nancy Drew book when they were kids, are back again, all grown up (and then some); and they are still pretending! And this is exactly why the Jan and Jenny b...

  • Where Is The Monkey Hiding?

    There's an old saying about getting the monkey off of your back. This book isn't quite about that. Or maybe it is. In this case, the monkey in our story has gone missing; and our heroine is off to find out where the monkey went, or where the monkey m...

  • Gardens Mean We Believe In Tomorrow!

    If you plant a seed in the garden, and if you nourish that seed and water it, and watch it grow, then you are watching one of life's miracles! And the truth is that you are also a miracle! And there is one more important thing you need to remember, a...

  • It's Spring! And It's Time To Clean!

    Sometimes you can show you care if you simply share! And sometimes sharing what you have is quite easy, especially when what you share (by giving to another) is your outgrown toys and clothes! And there is no better time to do that than in the spring...

  • The Murder At The Zoo

    Pamela Hillan and Penelope Dyan, lifelong friends who used to like to pretend they were in a Nancy Drew book when they were kids, are back again, all grown up (and then some); and they are still pretending! And this is exactly why the Jan and Jenny b...

  • Nothing Is Certain, And Everything Is Possible!

    My mother told me to not look for trouble where trouble didn't' exist. And the mother in this book also had words of wisdom. She said, Nothing is certain, and everything is possible. And that's sort of the same thing! And the truth is that when the s...

  • Here Today And Gone Tomorrow!

    We all need to enjoy every single second and every single minute of every single hour of every single day, because what is here today may be gone tomorrow. Think abut this as you travel though the pages of this fun-filled 'learn to read' book written...

  • Tadpoles Are Tadpoles Until They Become Frogs!

    Everything changes, and that's exactly how everything should be. And we are also changing, right along with the tadpoles and the puppies, and even the monkey who sits eating apples up in the apple tree. And if you don't believe me, you can just ask t...

  • Anchors

    In some ways we are like boats, because we go here and we go there; and then we come home and we lay down anchors. And so, home is not only where our hearts are, home is also where we anchor ourselves in love with those we love and who love us.Think ...

  • Be Safe!

    No matter what you do, it is always better to be safe than sorry; and as you travel through the pages of this fun-filled 'learn to read' book, you will soon discover that this is the moral of its story! And if you don't believe me, you can just ask t...

  • The Captive Cruise Ship

    Pamela Hillan and Penelope Dyan, lifelong friends who used to like to pretend they were in a Nancy Drew book when they were kids, are back again, all grown up (and then some); and they are still pretending! And this is exactly why the Jan and Jenny b...

  • Onions

    We all have many, many layers; and this is why we need to look with our hearts at a person to see what they have inside of them. As the old saying goes, you should never, ever judge a book by its cover, not even if you think it's an onion! Now while ...

  • Words

    Words matter. It matters what you say, as well as what you don't say. And the most important thing you always need to remember when it comes to words is when you say something to or about anyone, the words you say should always be kind and loving! An...

  • Arrows

    As you go through your life, should you suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune? should you stand by and do nothing as the slings and arrows come right at you? In Act 3, Scene 1 of William Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, Hamlet asks the very s...

  • Certainty

    We, all of us, yes . . . each and every one of us . . . need to live every single day of our lives to the fullest! And that means living every single second of every single minute of every single hour of every single day of our lives to the fullest! ...

  • Fireman Dave --- For Boys Only ?

    Meet young Dave, a boy with a dream to become a fireman someday. His mother and father, and his best friend, and even the elephant, tell Dave to follow his dream. And this is exactly what our young Dave decides is exactly what he should do, and why y...

  • Hello!

    There are many ways to say, 'hello, just as there are many ways to say, 'good bye'. And one way a person can say hello to another person without saying a single word is with a smile and a nod of the head. And if you don't believe me you can just ask ...

  • The Horses Of Griffin Farm

    Penelope Dyan became a teacher, an award winning published writer, a vocalist, and a mother and an attorney, all while following her dreams! And her happy life proves one hundred percent that dreams really do come true!It was the lifelong experiences...

  • Whimsy

    Every single one of us needs to live a life of whimsy and fun! And that applies to kids more than anyone else in this whole wide world! So, live your life to the fullest and make sure your life is fanciful and whimsical and fun, especially of you are...

  • Actions

    For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. And this is one of the three laws of Newton's law of motion. But there is something else we should think about here. This law also applies to how we conduct our lives. And any mother will tell...

  • Apples!

    You can't compare apples to oranges, because even if they are both fruit, they are two different things! And you can't compare yourself to anyone else, because you are uniquely you! And that means you aren't anything like anyone else, and no one is e...

  • The Bears In The Trees

    Penelope Dyan became a teacher, an award winning published writer, a vocalist, and a mother, and an attorney, all while following her dreams! And her happy life proves one hundred percent that dreams really do come true! It was the lifelong experienc...

  • Paths

    We all have to choose our own path in life, and that also means choosing between doing what is right and doing what is wrong. And, of course, we should always choose what is right. But sometimes that may seem like a difficult choice, because sometime...

  • Hang On!

    If you have a roof over your head, food on your plate, love, and clothes to wear, you have a lot. And you need to hang on to what you've got! But you also need to share what you have, because sharing means you care. And this is how you show the love ...

  • Horses, Birds And Bees

    Penelope Dyan became a teacher, an award winning published writer, a vocalist, and a mother and an attorney, all while following her dreams! And her happy life proves one hundred percent that dreams really do come true!It was the lifelong experiences...

  • The Llama

    Have you ever gone for a walk and met a llama? And do you know why a llama just might be special? Our heroine went for a walk and met a llama named Rose, who (our heroine was told) everyone knows. And, as it turned out, the llama named Rose was indee...

  • Nests

    Home is where your heart is! And it doesn't matter whether your home is in a house, or even in a nest in a tree (if you happen to be a bird) where birds make their homes for their newly born ( or rather, hatched) young. Sometimes people also refer to...

  • Not Sorry!

    Never be sorry for being yourself! And this is because you are one of a kind and like no other! Travel with our heroine through the pages of this fun-filled, 'learn to read' book; and discover what our heroine figured out and decided after she visite...

  • Three Dogs

    There really is no place like home, even if you happen to be a dog! Travel with our young heroine as she searches for her three lost dogs. And find out exactly why it is true that there is no place like home, and where our heroine's three lost dogs a...

  • What's Done!

    What's done cannot be undone, and you should never cry over spilled milk. All a person can ever do is their very best! So, let the past stay exactly where it is! And that means in the past, right where it belongs, right back there in the past! And if...

  • Answers

    Sometimes, to some questions you may have, there are no answers. And sometimes this might trouble you. Have fun traveling through this fun-filled, 'learn to read' book as you contemplate what this means. Follow our heroine as she goes on a search for...

  • The Howling In Griffin Forest

    Penelope Dyan became a teacher, an award winning published writer, a vocalist, and a mother and an attorney, all while following her dreams! And her happy life proves one hundred percent that dreams really do come true!It was the lifelong experiences...

  • It's True

    We all look for truth in our lives; and some things are always true, just as our heroine discovers. Our heroine's mother tries to explain this to our heroine; however, our heroine doesn't quite understand what her mother is trying to tell her. And so...

  • Perfect

    No one is perfect. All we can do is try to do our very best; and if we make a mistake through no fault of our own, then we need to simply forgive ourselves. When our heroine's mother told her that no one was perfect, our heroine became confused. So, ...

  • Trouble

    We all need to avoid trouble, and when trouble lies ahead, we simply need to walk away in the opposite direction. Find out what our heroine's mother tells her about trouble, and what the elephant said about what our heroine's mother told her. And the...

  • Angels

    You do not have to have wings to be somebody's angel. And this is exactly what our heroine's mother was trying to tell our young heroine on that oh so sunny day. However, she didn't understand what her mother was trying to say; and so, she asked the ...

  • Deceiving

    Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive! These were the words of Sir Walter Scott in 1808. So, why does our heroine's mother tell her daughter this just before she goes outside to play? Perhaps her mother simply wants her t...

  • Giving

    While everyone knows it is always much better to give than to receive, our heroine is faced with a dilemma when her mother tells her something about giving that she just does not understand! And (of course) she heads off to ask the elephant what the ...

  • Mother Nature

    We all need to work with Mother Nature and not against her. And this is something our heroine's mother dutifully tries to explain to our heroine. Our heroine doesn't exactly understand what her dear, sweet mother is trying to tell her; and while her ...

  • Trust

    Sometimes you might not know who you can trust. But there is one person in whom you can always safely trust, and that's a person you might have not previously considered. Can you guess who that person is? Our heroine was confused when her mother trie...

  • Forgetting

    Sometimes bad things happen. Sometimes others may be mean to you. Our heroine's mother tries to explain this to our heroine, and she tries to tell her daughter what she can do to feel better. However, our heroine doesn't seem to understand what her m...

  • Hesitating

    When it comes to some things in life, if you hesitate and wait too long (and don't do something) you just might be too late. And this is what our heroine's mother tried to tell our young heroine. But she just didn't understand what her mother was try...

  • Learning

    Our heroine's mother tells her something about learning that our heroine doesn't quite understand. And so, the very next day off to the elephant our heroine went to ask the elephant if she knew what her mother had meant. And all the elephant told her...

  • The Runaway Horses

    Penelope Dyan became a teacher, an award winning published writer, a vocalist, and a mother and an attorney, all while following her dreams! And her happy life proves one hundred percent that dreams really do come true!It was the lifelong experiences...

  • Christmas!

    Christmas doesn't have to come but once a year. You can have Christmas very single day of every single year! Find out what our heroine's mother had to say about Christmas, and how our heroine (after she thought and thought) finally understood what he...

  • Opportunity

    According to our heroine's mother, all of life is filled with opportunity! And she tells our heroine to open the door when opportunity comes knocking. But our heroine doesn't at all understand what her mother is trying to tell her. And so, off she go...

  • Brighter Days

    It really is true that it's always darkest before the dawn; and while our heroine's mother tries to explain to our heroine that brighter days really to lay ahead, our heroine (as usual) doesn't understand exactly what her mother is trying to tell her...

  • Great Grandma Says, Always Be Kind!

    Our heroine's great grandma has something important to share with our heroine about being kind to others, and our heroine doesn't exactly understand what her great grandma is trying to tell her. And so, she asks all her friends (and she begins with h...

  • Thoughtful

    Do you know what it means to be thoughtful? Our heroine's mother asked our heroine the same question, and she told our heroine to keep thoughtful thoughts in hear head. But, as usual, our heroine didn't understand what her other had meant by what she...

  • What's Next?

    You never know what's next. And when someone (even a friend) wants you to do something wrong, never play along. This is something our mother's heroine told her, and our heroine didn't understand what her mother had meant by what she had said! And so,...

  • The Donkey And The Pig

    Penelope Dyan became a teacher, an award winning published writer, a vocalist, and a mother and an attorney, all while following her dreams! And her happy life proves one hundred percent that dreams really do come true!It was the lifelong experiences...

  • Great Grandma Says, A Little Is Better Than Nothing!

    Our heroine pays another visit to her great grandma who simply tells her that 'a little is better than nothing', and that our heroine should be grateful for what she's got. Discover what our heroine figures out her great grandma was trying to tell he...

  • Great Grandma Says, Help One Another!

    Our heroine's great grandma tells our heroine not only that 'we need to help one another', but she also tells our heroine that we need to do this 'each and every day'. And this leaves our heroine dumbfounded and not knowing what to do or how she can ...

  • Great Grandma Says, You Catch More Flies With Honey!

    Our heroine's great Grandma tells our heroine that she can catch more flies with honey than our heroine can catch with vinegar, which seems quite strange to our heroine, because she has no intention of ever catching flies. And our heroine then decide...

  • Hope!

    Our heroine's mother suddenly quotes Alexander Pope and tells our heroine, Hope springs eternal in the human breast. And this leaves our heroine dumbfounded once again, and not knowing what her mother means. In fact, she thinks maybe her mother is ha...

  • One Candle

    Our heroine's mother tells our heroine, just as she leaves to go out to play, One candle against the darkness can light a room, and can light the way! And this leaves our heroine dumbfounded once again, because she doesn't know why her mother said wh...

  • Glass Houses

    As our heroine is leaving the house to go out to play, her mother tells her, People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones! And if you're wondering from when and where this saying came, the answer is that this proverb appeared in Chaucer's T...

  • Great Grandma Says, Everyone Needs Integrity!

    Our heroine's great grandma tells our heroine that everyone needs integrity. And not surprisingly, our heroine doesn't know what that means, because she has never actually heard the word, 'integrity'; and that's why she doesn't know what it means! An...

  • Shake the Tree!

    As our heroine is leaving the house to go out to play, her mother tells her, Don't forget to shake the tree! Or you'llnever, ever know what might just fall out! And our heroine doesn't know what her mother is trying to tell her. And so, our heroine d...

  • Share Joy!

    Our heroine's mother tells our heroine, just as she leaves to go out to play, that 'shared joy is double joy, and shared sorrow is half a sorrow' (which is an old Swedish proverb). And our heroine is dumbfounded once again. Because (you see) she does...

  • Wonder

    It was Socrates who first said, Wonder is the beginning of wisdom. And our heroine's mother just happened to tell our heroine the very same thing just as she was going out the front door to play. And our heroine was dumbfounded once again. Because (y...

  • Great Grandma Says, All roads lead to Rome!

    Our heroine's great grandma comes to visit. And when our heroine goes out the front door to play, Great Grandma tells her, All roads lead to Rome! Our heroine is confused and doesn't understand why her great grandma told her this; and so, she goes ab...

  • Journeys

    Just as our heroine was going outside to play, our heroine's mother (after asking where our heroine was going) told our heroine, It's not the destination. It's the journey . . . And our heroine was confused by what her mother had said as she headed r...

  • Patience

    Daisaku Ikeda, a renown Japanese Buddhist philosopher, educator, poet and author, said, With love and patience, nothing is impossible. And our heroine's mother told our heroine nearly the very same thing, just as our heroine (confused by what her mot...

  • Peace

    The Swedish say, Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is counted wise. And Mahatma Gandhi said, First keep the peace within yourself; then you can bring peace to others. And our heroine's mother simply told our heroine, Keep the peace, as our heroin...

  • Prudence

    The Swedish say, There's no cow on the ice! And Amos Bronson Alcott said, Prudence is the footprint of wisdom! And our heroine's mother simply told our heroine, Please act with prudence when you go outside today! And then, our heroine (confused by wh...

  • Shenanigans

    Do you know what the word 'shenanigans' means? Well, it seems our heroine didn't. And when her mother told her not to start 'any' shenanigans, as our herione was going out the door to play, our heroine simply did not understand what her mother meant!...

  • Great Grandma Says, A watched pot never boils!

    Our heroine's great grandma comes to visit. And when our heroine becomes hungry and smells dinner cooking, her great grandma simply tells her that a watched pot never boils and that she should go outside and play. And even though our heroine doesn't ...

  • Great Grandma Says, It has to be You!

    Our heroine's great grandma came to visit. And when our heroine went out the front door to play, her great grandma said, It has to be you . . . It has to be each one of us! And our heroine didn't understand why her great grandma told her this; and so...

  • Great Grandma Says, Listen To Everything!

    Our heroine's great grandma comes to visit once again. And once more, Great Grandma has some wisdom to impart to her great granddaughter. She tells her to listen to everything, and then do what she thinks is best! Our heroine doesn't at all understan...

  • Greed

    The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed. These are the words of Mahatma Gandhi that our heroine's mother spoke to our heroine as she was going outside to play. And (of course) as usual, our heroine didn't underst...

  • Links

    We are all links in the great chain of life, and some say a chain is no stronger than its weakest link. Our heroine's mother simply told our heroine, We are all merely links in the great chain of life! And our heroine (confused by what her mother had...

  • Noise

    Our heroine was upset; and our heroine's mother noticed and told her, No one will ever listen if you don't make a noise! as our heroine (confused by what her mother had said) headed right out the door to play! And, of course, our heroine did what she...

  • Silk Purses

    In 'The Mayor of Garret' (1764), Samuel Foote, a Cornish dramatist, actor and theatre manager, wrote, Who can make a purse out of a sow's ear? And when our heroine's mother tells our heroine her grandma can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, as ou...

  • Things

    Swedes say, The longest journey is the journey inward. And our heroine's mother told her, Some things matter! Other things don't matter! just as she headed right out the door to play! And then, our confused heroine does what she always does; and she ...

  • Great Grandma Says, Happiness Is Acceptance!

    Our heroine's great grandma comes to visit. And when our heroine goes out the front door to play, Great Grandma tells her, Happiness is acceptance! And I'll say it out loud! You have all that you need! And you're a standout in any crowd! And (as usua...

  • Great Grandma Says, Please Don't Complain!

    Our heroine's great grandma comes to visit. And when our heroin complains about a skinned knee, Great Grandma tells her to please not complain, because there is always someone else in this world worse off than she is; and then, she sends our heroine ...

  • Great Grandma Says, Say Something Nice!

    Our heroine's great grandma tells her to say something nice or say nothing at all. Our heroine doesn't understand why her great grandma told her this, or what her great grandma meant by what she said. And so, our heroine goes about telling everyone s...

  • Knowledge

    The old Latin saying, ipsa scientia potestas est, found in his Meditationes Sacrae (1597) translated as knowledge itself is power is attributed to none other than Francis Bacon. And our heroine's mother tells our heroine nearly the same thing as our ...

  • Great Grandma Says, Love Conquers Anything!

    Virgil (70-19 BC) in Eclogues wrote, Love conquers all, or as in the original Latin, omnia vincit amor. Our heroine's great grandma comes to visit; and she tells our heroine, I will always love you! And then, she tells her, Love conquers anything! An...

  • Great Grandma Says, Shake Things Up!

    Our heroine's great grandma comes to visit. And just as our heroine is going outside to play, her great grandma tells her to shake things up! Our heroine doesn't understand what her great grandma meant by what she said; and so, she goes about telling...

  • Great Grandma Says, We Can't Change Yesterday!

    Our heroine's great grandma comes to visit. And when our heroine goes out the front door to play, Great Grandma tells her, We can't change yesterday! And our heroine doesn't understand why her great grandma told her this and wonders if she did someth...

  • Idle Tongues

    Our heroine's mother told our heroine to beware of idle tongues as our heroine was heading out the door to play! And then, our heroine (as usual) does what she always does; and she tells all her friends (beginning with the elephant) what her mother s...

  • Wheels

    As our heroine was going out the door to roller skate, her mother shouted out to her, What goes around comes around! And our heroine (confused by what her mother had said) decided to see if the elephant knew what her mother had meant by what she said...

  • A Grain Of Salt!

    To take something with a grain of salt or pinch of salt (an old English idiom) means you need to look at what people say that may be mean or untrue with skepticism. And our heroine's mother simply told our heroine, Take everything you hear with a gra...

  • Grandma Says, There are all sorts of babies!

    There are all sorts of baby animals that are identified in lots of different ways. And Grandma wants to tell someone all about them. Can you guess who that someone might be?Think about who you think that someone might be as you turn each page of this...

  • Great Grandma Says, All Rivers Flow To The Sea!

    When our heroine's great grandma comes to visit, her Great Grandma tells her, All rivers flow to the sea! Our heroine doesn't understand why her great grandma told her this; and so, she goes about telling everyone she knows (beginning with the elepha...

  • Great Grandma Says, Learn from your mistakes!

    Our heroine's great grandma comes to visit. And when our heroine goes out the front door to play, Great Grandma tells her, Learn from your mistakes! Our heroine doesn't at all understand why her great grandma told her this, and she wonders if she mad...

  • Great Grandma Says, See the world in a grain of sand!

    In 1803 (published in 1863) William Blake wrote: To see the world in a grain of sand, and heaven in a wildflower . . . Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour. And our heroine's great grandma told her simply to 'see the world ...

  • Great Grandma Says, Sometimes the sky cries!

    Our heroine's great grandma comes to visit. And when Great Grandma tells her that 'sometimes the sky cries', our heroine doesn't understand what her great grandma means; and so, she goes about telling everyone she knows (beginning with the elephant) ...

  • The Surprise Foal

    Penelope Dyan became a teacher, an award winning published writer, a vocalist, and a mother and an attorney, all while following her dreams! And her happy life proves one hundred percent that dreams really do come true!It was the lifelong experiences...

  • Great Grandma says, Don't put the cart before the horse!

    Our heroine's great grandma comes to visit. And when our heroine goes out the front door to play, Great Grandma tells her, Don't put the cart before the horse! Our heroine doesn't understand what her great grandma meant; and so, she goes about tellin...

  • Great Grandma Says, A rolling stone gathers no moss!

    Our heroine's great grandma comes to visit. And when our heroine goes out the front door to play, Great Grandma tells her, A rolling stone gathers no moss! Our heroine doesn't understand why her great grandma told her this; and so, she tells everyone...

  • Great Grandma Says, A stitch in time saves nine!

    Our heroine's great grandma tells our heroine that a stitch in time saves nine, and our heroine is left wondering what Great Grandma meant! Did something need mending? And if something needed mending, then what was she supposed to do? Our heroine dec...

  • Great Grandma Says, Everyone makes mistakes!

    Our heroine's great Grandma tells our heroine everyone makes mistakes, but it is what you do afterwards that matters; and our heroine is left wondering what Great Grandma meant! Had she made a mistake, and if she had made a mistake, then what was she...

  • Pumpkin, Pumpkin! Sugar Dumplin'!

    Thanksgiving is coming, and the entire family knows what they want to eat to celebrate. But then, our heroine decides that there must be more to Thanksgiving than a celebratory meal. And so, (as usual) our heroine decides to ask everyone she knows wh...

  • Grandma Says, It's baby's first Christmas!

    Our heroine's grandma tells our heroine that everyone needs to get ready for baby's first Christmas! And that includes everyone inside and outside of the house. And this time our heroine knows what her sweet grandma means! And so, she goes about tell...

  • Ladders

    As our heroine was heading outside to play, our heroine's mother said, You can go up a ladder; and after you go up, you can go down! OR you can stay where you are, right there on the ground! And our heroine (confused by what her mother said) headed r...

  • Nobody Knows Everything!

    Our heroine's mother simply told our heroine, Nobody knows everything! as our heroine (confused by what her mother had said) headed out the door to play! And then (because she couldn't stop thinking abut what her mother had said) our heroine did what...

  • Great Grandma Says, Life is full of choices!

    Our heroine's great grandma tells our heroine that life is full of choices, and our heroine is left wondering what Great Grandma meant! Was she supposed to make some sort of an important choice today? And our heroine (as usual) decides to ask everyon...

  • Great Grandma Says, Pretty is as pretty does!

    Our heroine's great Grandma tells our heroine that pretty is as pretty does; and our heroine is left wondering what Great Grandma meant by what she said! And so then, our heroine decides to ask everyone she knows what they think about what Great Gran...

  • Great Grandma Says, Sometimes we need flowers!

    Our heroine's great grandma tells her, Sometimes we need flowers on a sunny spring day! And our heroine wonders what Great Grandma meant! Was she asking for flowers? And if Great Grandma was asking for flowers, should she pick some for her? Since Gre...

  • What Goes Around!

    Our heroine's mother shouted out to our heroine, What goes around comes around! It's like instant karma! And our heroine, confused by what her mother shouted out as our heroine headed out to play, decides to do what she always does! And she asks all ...

  • Behind Closed Doors

    Our heroine's mother tells our heroine, You never know what goes on behind closed doors! And our heroine wonders what her mother means! And so, our heroine decides to ask everyone she knows what they think about what her mother said. And she begins (...

  • Smile! Laugh! Sing!

    Our heroine's mother tells our heroine, Smile! Laugh! sing! Because you can do just anything! And our heroine is left wondering what her mother meant! And then, she decides to ask everyone she knows what they think about what her dear, sweet mother s...

  • Great Grandma Says, If you have a book . . .

    As our heroine is heading out the door to play, our heroine's great grandma tells our heroine, If you have a book . . . you are never alone! And our heroine is left wondering what Great Grandma meant! And so, our heroine (as usual) decides to ask eve...

  • Great Grandma Says, You have possibilities!

    Great Grandma tells our heroine, You have possibilities! And our heroine is once again left wondering what her Great Grandma means! (It seems Great Grandma is ever so fond of talking in riddle.) And so, after that, our heroine decides to ask everyone...

  • Words Hurt!

    As our heroine heads out to play, our heroine's mother tells our heroine, Words hurt! And our heroine wonders what her dear, sweet mother meant. And so, our heroine decides to ask everyone she knows what they think about what her mother said, to see ...

  • You Are Invited!

    You are invited to a very special day! Can you guess what that special day is? And more importantly, can you guess who will be there? All you have to do is turn the pages of this book to find out. And that's a very simple thing to do! And you can pra...

  • Be Courteous!

    As our heroine is heading out to play, our heroine's mother tells our heroine, Always be courteous!! And our heroine is left wondering what her dear, sweet mother meant. And so, our heroine decides to ask everyone she knows what they think about what...

  • E Pluribus Unum --- We Are One!

    As our heroine is heading out to play, our heroine's mother tells our heroine, E Pluribus Unum! And our heroine is left wondering what her dear, sweet mother meant. And so, our heroine decides to ask everyone she knows what they think about what her ...

  • Great Grandma Says, Don't cry over spilled milk!

    Our heroine's great Grandma tells our heroine, Don't cry over spilled milk! And our heroine is left wondering what Great Grandma meant! Why? Because she hadn't spilled any milk! And so, our heroine (as usual) decides to ask everyone she knows what th...

  • Great Grandma Says, Every wall has two sides!

    When our heroine's great grandma comes to visit, her great grandma tells her, Every wall has two sides! And (of course)our heroine is left wondering what her great grandma meant! And so, she decides to tell everyone she knows what what her great gran...

  • Great Grandma Says, Look at the other side of the hill!

    As our heroine is heading out to play, our heroine's great Grandma tells our heroine, Look at the other side of the hill! And our heroine is left wondering what Great Grandma meant by what she said; and she decides (as she usually does) to ask everyo...

  • Great Grandma Says, No one is perfect!

    As our heroine is going out to play, her great Grandma tells her, No one is perfect! And our heroine is left wondering what Great Grandma meant and why she said what she said! And so, our heroine decides to ask everyone she knows what they think abou...

  • Celebrate!

    Our heroine's mother told our heroine, Celebrate! as our heroine (confused by what her mother told her) headed out the door to play! (After all, it wasn't a holiday!) And so, next, she did what she always does; and she told all her friends what her m...

  • Dance!

    Our heroine's mother told our heroine, Don't forget to dance! as our heroine (confused by what her mother had said) headed right out the door to play! And so, she did what she always does; and she told all her friends what her mother said (beginning ...

  • Great Grandma Says, All you need is love!

    Our heroine's great Grandma tells our heroine, All you need is love! And our heroine is left wondering about what Great Grandma meant! And so, our heroine decides to ask everyone she knows what they think about what Great Grandma said. And she begins...

  • Great Grandma Says, Be an island unto yourself!

    Just as our heroine heads out to play, her great grandma shouts out to her, Be an island unto yourself! And she is left wondering what her great grandma meant! And so, as usual . . . she decides to ask everyone she knows what they think about what he...

  • Great Grandma Says, Life is all about change!

    Our heroine's great Grandma tells our heroine, Life is all about change! And our heroine is left wondering what Great Grandma meant! (It seemed Great Grandma was always talking in riddles our heroine didn't quite understand!) And so, our heroine deci...

  • Sunshine!

    Our heroine's mother shouted out to our heroine, You are my sunshine! just as our heroine (confused by what her mother had said) headed out the door to play! (After all. it wasn't even raining!) And so, she did what she always does; and she told all ...

  • The Blues

    Our heroine's mother told our heroine, Sometimes we all get the blues! just as our heroine (confused by what her mother said) heads out the door to play! (After all. she wasn't feeling at all sad!) And so, next, she does what she always does; and she...

  • Great Grandma Says, It's a very fine day!

    Our heroine's great Grandma tells our heroine, It's a very fine day! And since Great Grandma always talks in riddles, especially when it comes to our heroine, our heroine is left wondering what Great Grandma meant! And so, our heroine decides to ask ...

  • Great Grandma Says, Not everyone lies!

    As our heroine heads out to play, Great Grandma tells our heroine, Not everyone lies! And our heroine wonders what Great Grandma meant! Did Great Grandma think she had told her a lie? (And that made our heroine feel like she wanted to cry!) And so, o...

  • Great Grandma Says, Some things are easy as pie!

    As our heroine heads out to play, Great Grandma tells our heroine Some things are easy as pie! And our heroine is left wondering what Great Grandma meant! And then (as she usually does) our heroine decides to ask everyone she knows what they think Gr...

  • Great Grandma Says, You can tell me anything!

    As our heroine is going outside to play, her great grandma shouts out to her, You can tell me anything! And (as usual) our heroine is left wondering what Great Grandma meant! And so, our heroine decides to ask everyone she knows what they think about...

  • Haystacks!

    Our heroine's mother told our heroine, Two needles in a haystack are much better than one! just as our heroine was heading out the door to play. And since our heroine was confused by what her mother said, she decided to tell all her friends what her ...

  • The Dogs of Griffin Farm

    Penelope Dyan became a teacher, an award-winning published writer, a vocalist, and a mother and an attorney, all while following her dreams! And her happy life proves one hundred percent that dreams really do come true!It was the lifelong experiences...

  • Great Grandma Asks, What's good for the goose?

    As our heroine heads out to play, great grandma asks our heroine What's good for the goose? And our heroine is left wondering what the answer to that question can be? And so (as she usually does) our heroine decides to ask everyone she knows what the...

  • Great Grandma Says, Life is like a book!

    As our heroine heads out to play, great grandma tells our heroine Life is like a book! And there is nothing like holding a good book in your hand And our heroine is left wondering what Great Grandma meant! And so (as she usually does) our heroine dec...

  • Great Grandma Says, Put on your Thinking Cap!

    As our heroine heads out to play, Great Grandma tells our heroine, Put on your thinking cap! And our heroine is left wondering what Great Grandma meant! And so (as usual) our heroine decides to ask everyone she knows what they think, to see if they c...

  • Hold The Line!

    As our heroine is heading right outside to play, our heroine's mother tells our heroine, Hold the line! And our heroine is left wondering what her dear, sweet mother meant. And so, our heroine decides to ask everyone she knows what they think about w...

  • I Wondered Why?

    As our heroine heads out to play, she asks her mother, Why are people not happy? Why does it seem like some people don't even like each other and are oh so very, very mean? And her mother simply tells her, You will figure that out for yourself, right...

  • Never Give Up!

    As our heroine is heading out to play, our heroine's mother tells our heroine, Never give up! And (of course) she is left wondering what her dear, sweet mother meant. And so, our heroine decides to ask everyone she knows what her dear, sweet mother s...

  • Rock The Boat!

    As our heroine goes out to play, our heroine's mother says, Rock the boat! And our heroine is left wondering what her dear, sweet mother meant. And so, our heroine decides to ask everyone she knows what they think about what her mother said to see wh...

  • Blow Your Horn!

    As our heroine is heading out to play, our heroine's mother tells our heroine, Blow your horn! And our heroine is left wondering what her dear, sweet mother meant. And so, our heroine decides to ask everyone she knows what they think about what her m...

  • Break The Glass!

    As our heroine is heading out to play, our heroine's mother shouts out to our heroine, Break the glass! And our heroine is left wondering what her dear, sweet mother meant. And so, our heroine decides to tell everyone she knows what her mother said t...

  • Cross My Heart!

    As our heroine heads out to play, she decides to tell her mother something she thinks is important to say. And her mother asks her if what she said was true. And she assures her mother that she would never lie. Her bother overhears the conversation, ...

  • Feelings

    As our heroine is heading out to play, sad and pouting, our heroine's mother tells our heroine, What you are feeling is absolutely okay! And our heroine is left wondering what her dear, sweet mother meant and why she didn't even ask her why she was p...

  • Great Grandma Says, Hay is for horses!

    Our heroine has some questions for her Great Grandma; and instead answering our heroine's questions directly, Great Grandma tells our heroine something our heroine doesn't at all understand! And our heroine is once again left wondering what her Great...

  • Great Grandma Says, Think about the bees!

    As our heroine heads out to play, Great Grandma tells our heroine, Think about the bees! And our heroine is again left wondering what Great Grandma meant! And so (as usual) our heroine decides to ask everyone she knows what they think about what Grea...

  • You Matter!

    As our heroine is heading out to play, our heroine's dear, sweet mother tells our heroine, You matter! And . . . our heroine wonders what her dear, sweet mother meant and why she said what she said. And so, she decides to ask everyone she knows what ...

  • Dance With The Waves!

    Life has many ups and downs, and life surges just like the waves of the ocean. The trick is to dance though the waves of life. But what does that mean? Our heroine wonders about that when her mother tells her to, Always dance with the waves! Think ab...

  • Differences!

    As our heroine heads out to play, our heroine's mother tells our heroine, We are all different! And our heroine wonders what her dear, sweet mother means. And so, she decides to ask everyone she knows what they think about what her mother said, to se...

  • Great Grandma Says, Razzle-dazzle them!

    Great Grandma comes to visit; and as out heroine heads out the door to play Great Grandma tells our heroine something our heroine doesn't at all understand! Great Grandma shouts out, Razzle-dazzle them! And our heroine is once again left wondering wh...

  • Great Grandma Says, Think about the trees!

    As our heroine heads out to play, Great Grandma tells our heroine, Think about the trees! And our heroine is again left wondering what Great Grandma meant! So, she decides to ask everyone she knows what they think Great Grandma meant! Because . . . e...

  • Obligations!

    As our heroine heads out to play, our heroine's mother tells our heroine, We all have obligations! And she wonders what her dear, sweet mother means. And so, she decides to ask everyone she knows what they think about what her mother said, to see if ...

  • Don't Look For The Rain!

    Our heroine wonders what her mother means (and why her mother said what she said) when her mother tells her, Don't look for the rain on a sunny day! Think about what this means to you, and what you would tell our heroine this means, as you go traveli...

  • Great Grandma Says, Life is one big adventure!

    Our heroine's great grandma tells our heroine,Life is one big adventure! And our heroine doesn't understand why her great grandma said this, or what her great grandma meant! And so, she tells everyone she knows (beginning with her friend, the elephan...

  • Great Grandma Says, Look before you leap!

    Our heroine's great grandma tells her, Look before you leap! And think before you speak! AND our heroine imply doesn't understand why her great grandma said this, and she doesn't understand what her great grandma meant by what she said. And so, our h...

  • I will Always Love You!

    Life has many ups and downs, but the most important thing in all of life is to love one another. Our heroine wonders about this very thing when her mother says, I will always love you! And of course she tells her mother, I love you too! And then, she...

  • It's Your Birthday!

    Love is the gift that costs you nothing, but means everything!And when you look at life with eyes of love, the whole wide world is beautiful! Think about what it means to love; and think about why love is the greatest gift of all, as you travel throu...

  • Make Waves!

    Life has many ups and downs, and life surges just like the waves of the ocean. But what does it mean in life to 'make waves'? Our heroine wonders about that when her dear, sweet mother tells her to, Make waves! Think about what you think it means to ...

  • Christmas Trees!

    Christmas means many different things to many different people. And our heroine wonders what her mother means when her mother looks at their Christmas tree and then tells her, Sometimes you can't see the forest because of the trees! And so, she decid...

  • Great Grandma Says, Anyone can tell a story!

    Great Grandma tells our heroine, Anyone can tell a story! But not everyone can read a book! And our heroine doesn't understand why her great grandma said this, and she doesn't understand what her great grandma meant by what she said. And so, our hero...

  • Open Up Your Umbrella!

    Life has many ups and downs, and into every life a little rain must fall. But what does that mean? Our heroine is confused when her mother tells her, Open up your umbrella! Because if you don't, you won't stop the rain! Think about what you think our...

  • Slowly But Surely!

    Life is always full of surprises, and it also has many ups and downs. The trick is to take your time as you travel through the roads of life. But what does that mean? Our heroine is confused when her mother tells her Always go slowly, but surely! Thi...

  • Great Grandma Says, Jump for joy!

    Great Grandma tells our heroine, Today is a good day to jump for joy! And our heroine doesn't understand why her great grandma said this, and she doesn't understand what her great grandma meant by what she said. And so, she goes about telling everyon...

  • In The Sun! A Kid's Guide To Avalon

    There are lots of ways you can travel and lots of places you can go to and see. And one one of those places you can go to and see is Avalon, California (Santa Catalina Island). And if you are looking to learn a bit more about Avalon, or if you wonder...

  • Mirrors!

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when her mother tells her, When you look into a mirror what you see is what you get! And so she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother mea...

  • Music Is All You Need!

    Our heroine wonders about that when her mother means when her mother tells her, All you really need is music! And so, she goes about telling all her friends what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother meant. And she gets no answe...

  • Great Grandma Says, Say what you mean!

    Our heroine wonders about what her great grandma means when she tells her, Say what you mean! And mean what you say! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her great grandma said to see if they can tell her what her great grandma mean...

  • Horses!

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when her mother tells her, You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother ...

  • The Deal!

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when her mother tells her, Always be careful when you seal the deal! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother meant. (And she be...

  • Great Grandma Says, Actions speak louder than words!

    Our heroine wonders about what her great grandma means when she tells her, Actions speak louder than words! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her great grandma said to see if they can tell her what her great grandma meant. (And s...

  • Great Grandma Says, The proof is in the pudding!

    Our heroine wonders about what her great grandma means when she tells her, The proof is in the pudding! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her great grandma said to see if they can tell her what her great grandma meant. (And she b...

  • Rose Colored Glasses

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when she tells her, Always, always wear your rose colored glasses And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother meant. (And she begin...

  • Silence!

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when her mother tells her, Silence is the biggest enemy of justice! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother meant. (And she beg...

  • Worry

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when her mother tells her, A little worry can cast a big shadow! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother meant. (And she begins...

  • Distance!

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when her mother tells her, The shortest distance between two points is a straight line! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother...

  • Great Grandma Says, No two snowflakes are alike!

    Our heroine wonders about what her great grandma means when she tells her, No two snowflakes are alike! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her great grandma said to see if they can tell her what her great grandma meant. (And she b...

  • Great Grandma Says, Sometimes you lose!

    Our heroine wonders about what her great grandma means when she tells her, Sometimes you lose! And sometimes you win! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her great grandma said to see if they can tell her what her great grandma mea...

  • Great Grandma Says, Things have consequences!

    Our heroine wonders about what her great grandma means when she tells her, Things have consequences! And then she adds, Science tells us for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction! So, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her ...

  • Inches!

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when her mother tells her, If you give them an inch, they will take a mile! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother meant. (And...

  • Slippery Slopes!

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when her mother tells her, Don't go down a slippery slope! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother meant. (And she begins with ...

  • Getting There!

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when her mother tells her, Getting there is half the fun! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother meant. (And she begins with h...

  • Great Grandma Says, History tells a story!!

    Our heroine wonders about what her great grandma means when she tells her, History tells a story! And every story has a message! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her great grandma said to see if they can tell her what her great ...

  • Great Grandma Says, This too will pass!

    Our heroine wonders about what her great grandma means when she tells her, This too will pass! And nothing will frever last! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her great grandma said to see if they can tell her what her great gran...

  • Work Hard!

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when her mother tells her, Hard work never hurt anyone! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother meant. (And she begins with her...

  • Family!

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when her mother tells her, Family matters! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother meant. (And she begins with her friend, the ...

  • Great Grandma Says, Have faith in yourself!

    Our heroine wonders about what her great grandma means when she tells her, Have faith in yourself! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what Great Grandma said to see if they can tell her what her great grandma meant. (And she begins wit...

  • Great Grandma Says, History is a mirror!

    Our heroine wonders about what her great grandma means when she tells her, History is a mirror! But we should only look into the past to mirror good things we want to last! And so, she tells everyone she knows what Great Grandma said to see if they c...

  • Great Grandma Says, Some things you can't buy!

    Our heroine wonders about what her great grandma means when she tells her, Some things you can't buy! It doesn't matter how hard you try! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what Great Grandma said to see if they can tell her what her g...

  • Roads!

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when her mother tells her, Look both ways when you cross the road! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother meant. (And she begi...

  • Great Grandma Says, You can go this way or that!

    Our heroine wonders about what her great grandma means when she tells her, You can go this way or that! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what Great Grandma said to see if they can tell her what her great grandma meant. (And she begin...

  • Hands!

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when her mother tells her, Many hands make light work! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother meant. (And she begins with her ...

  • Trips!

    Our heroine wonders what her mother means when her mother tells her, The only trip in life you will ever regret is the trip you never take ! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her m...

  • Whispers!

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when her mother tells her, What begins as a whisper can turn into a roar! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother meant. (And s...

  • All That Shines!

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when her mother says, All that shines is not merely silver and gold! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother meant. (And she be...

  • Great Grandma Says, He who hesitates is lost!

    Our heroine wonders about what her great grandma means when she tells her, He who hesitates is lost! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what Great Grandma said to see if they can tell her what her great grandma meant. (And she begins w...

  • A Little Light!

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when her mother tells her, A little light in a gray world makes all things wonderful! And so, she tells everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother meant. (And sh...

  • Spring!

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when her mother (paraphrasing Pablo Nurada) tells her, You can cut off all of the flowers, but you can't hold back Spring! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see i...

  • Walking!

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when her mother tells her, Never go walking into trouble! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother meant. (And she begins with h...

  • Beavers!

    Our heroine wonders about what her mother means when she tells her, If beavers can alter the environment, then so can we! And so, she goes about telling everyone she knows what her mother said to see if they can tell her what her mother meant. (And s...

  • Great Grandma Says, Never, ever give up!

  • America First! But We Weren't Here First

    • / General Fiction

    This book is not intended to tell you everything about the Americas or how America came to be.  It is merely intended to indicate those of us who happen to be here are simply all immigrants, even the ancient peoples of the Americas!  And even th...

  • Big Boy Pants & Blue Suede Shoes . . . For Boys Only

    • / General Fiction

    Sometimes boys and girls both need to know it is time to grow up and act in a responsible manner. And for some this might not be such an easy thing to do. Growing up and accepting responsibility for your actions, even when you do something bad, it no...

  • The Dartman -- For Boys Only

    • / General Fiction

    William Shakespeare reminds us in ‘Romeo and Juliet’,that ”A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. And we need to remember one more thing William Shakespeare’s Polonius says in ‘Hamlet’; and that is, “To thine own self be t...

  • Earthquake!

    • / General Fiction

    An earthquake is kind of scary, but it doesn’t last long.  And then you have the after shocks, and you kind of worry.  Read this book and find out how you can be safe and take care of yourself when the ground just shakes and rattles and rolls ...

  • Feeling Blue

    • / General Fiction

    Sometimes a kid can start to feel sad and can’t figure out why or how to stop feeling the way he, or she, feels. It’s called feeling blue. And everyone feels blue at one time or another.  And even though you might know this to be true, you wa...

  • Flowers Grow From Flower Seeds!

    • / General Fiction

    Flowers grow from flower seeds; and so, it stands to reason this is why everyone says, You reap what you sow. If we plant flower seeds, we will grow flowers. If we plant the seeds of love and goodness and light, we will grow love and goodness and lig...

  • French Fry Fred --- For Boys Only

    • / General Fiction

    This is the story of French Fry Fred, who ate nothing but French fries morning, noon and night, and before he went to bed.  Have fun with this book for boys only that even girls will enjoy, because its message is for everyone.  Decide for yourse...

  • Girls Can Do Anything!

    • / General Fiction

    It may be a man’s world, and a man (or a boy) might think it’s a man’s world; but things are changing.  And things have been changing for a long time now.  The truth of the matter is girls are finding out they can do anything a boy can do!...

  • I'm Scared!

    • / General Fiction

    Sometimes we may feel like the sky is falling, just like  in the old European folk tale of “Henny Penny”; but it really isn’t.  And if you don’t know the story of “Henny Penny”, the hen, then it is time for you to hear it and to lear...

  • It's All Okay! For Boys Only

    • / General Fiction

    Being a kid isn’t easy, especially if you happen to be a boy! The elephant and the monkey, and all of the other familiar and fun Penelope Dyan characters, understand this; and they are right here to help you with one important thing as you trav...

  • My Grandpa Had Bypass Surgery

    • / General Fiction

    Sometimes, when someone in your family gets sick and has to go to the hospital emergency room, it can be very scary indeed.  And if that someone has to have an operation after that, things become even more scary, especially if you are a kid!  Th...

  • Our Freedom of Speech

    • / General Fiction

    Yes, America is the land of the brave and the home of the free; and we do have freedom of speech!  It’s right there in the Bill of Bights!  It’s right there in the First Amendment!  But this does not mean we can say whatever we want to say,...

  • Stand Tall Like A Sunflower!

    • / General Fiction

    Follow your dreams! Reach toward the sun! Stand tall like a sunflower! Make sure you always lend others a helping hand to show others that you care! Never, ever forget to offer words of kindness when someone is in despair; because even the elephant k...

  • Start The Day With A Grateful Heart!

    • / General Fiction

    You should always start the day with a grateful heart! And this is because even when it happens to be storming outside, storms don't last forever! And when the storm is over, you can simply look for the rainbow that will follow the storm! Sometimes w...

  • Stop Hate!

    • / General Fiction

    Love always surpasses hate, and this is how it should be.  We are all one small part of the great human race, and we need to love one another.  We also need to appreciate and honor all of the ways we are like one another, as well as all of the w...

  • Stop All of the Madness!

    • / General Fiction

    Sometimes it might seem like the entire world has gone mad. And you might not know exactly what to do about it. After all, what could you do? You're only a kid! What you need to remember is while you may be a kid now, you are the future; and the futu...

  • Think Pink Instead Of Blue!

    • / General Fiction

    If you want to 'be in the pink' it's important that you think pink. And if you want to know what it means to think pink so that you can 'be in the pink', you can simply ask the flamingo, because everyone knows that the flamingo is always 'in the pink...

  • Traveling!

    • / General Fiction

    ood manners are always right and never wrong.  And some of the time, good manners and safety simply go hand in hand!  If that seems a little strange to you, and if you are curious how this can be true, you could just ask the elephant! After all ...

  • Yes, I Can! Some Advice For A Girl

    • / General Fiction

    A girl can do anything a boy can do; and (in fact) she just might be able to do it better!  All a girl ever has to do is to tell herself, “Yes, I can!”  And then . . . watch out world!  Now, this doesn’t mean boys can’t do things as wel...

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Penelope Dyan has published 646 books.

Penelope Dyan does not have a new book coming out soon. The latest book, Great Grandma Says, Never, ever give up!, was published in September 2025.

The first book by Penelope Dyan, Doors, was published in June 2005.

No. Penelope Dyan does not write books in series.
No ads, please...

$25 / year

FictionDB Premium Membership

Subscribe