ABC EXPLORERS
A Love of Rhyme. A Love of Learning. A Love of Adventure.
ABC Explorers is the children’s book series that started my creative journey.
I first created ABC Explorers because I wanted to combine two things I love most: my children and my love of rhyme. I wanted to create something that would bring us together while also encouraging children to read, learn, explore, and dream.
The idea was simple: an “aerial literacy program” that would take child passengers on adventures around the world while teaching them about the destinations they are visiting through fun, imaginative, rhyming stories.
I wanted ABC Explorers to have that playful, memorable feeling that made me love Dr. Seuss as a child, while introducing children to real places, landmarks, cultures, and experiences around the world.
THE JOURNEY
I first published ABC Explorers in 2016.
I quickly discovered that creating and writing the book came much more naturally to me than marketing it. I also realized that I wasn't very good at asking people to spend money on something I had created. If someone told me they couldn't afford the book, my instinct was simply to give it to them.
That made me start thinking differently.
Instead of only trying to sell the book one person at a time, I started thinking about organizations and businesses that already had access to the families and children who would enjoy it.
In January 2017, I reached out to every airline I could identify that traveled to Paris, France, because I thought an airline could be a natural place for a children's travel book.
That same summer, EasyJet introduced FLYbrary, a program that placed physical books on flights for passengers to enjoy. The books were not specifically about the destinations children were traveling to, and my book was not included, but seeing an airline introduce a program involving books on flights was exciting because it was similar to the type of opportunity I had envisioned.
WHERE ABC EXPLORERS IS TODAY
Over the years, I have reached out to major publishing companies and more than 500 literary agents in an effort to find the right opportunity for ABC Explorers.
I haven't had the success I hoped for yet, which is why I have chosen not to publish the rest of the series at this time.
I currently have five books completed.
I still believe in the series and plan to continue it when the opportunity is right.
THE VISION
My vision for ABC Explorers has always been bigger than simply creating children's books.
I want children to learn about the world while developing a love of reading.
I envision ABC Explorers books being available through schools, libraries, bookstores, travel agencies, online retailers, and eventually airlines.
Imagine a child traveling to a new destination and being able to read a fun rhyming story about that very place while they are on their way there.
Reading becomes part of the adventure. Travel becomes part of learning. And learning becomes something children look forward to.
WHY ABC EXPLORERS MATTERS TO ME
ABC Explorers may not have reached the level of success I originally hoped for, but I don't consider the journey a failure.
Seeing my children excited to see themselves in a book and reading the words that I wrote is a success to me.
That feeling is something I will always treasure.
Of course, I would love to see ABC Explorers reach thousands or even millions of children someday. I would love to see the books in classrooms, libraries, bookstores, travel destinations, and on airplanes around the world.
But sometimes success starts with simply creating something that makes the people you love proud.
And for me, that is exactly how ABC Explorers began.
THE ADVENTURE ISN'T OVER.
The first book started the journey.
The rest of the adventure is waiting for its opportunity.
A FEW EXCERPT’S FROM CURRENT MANUSCRPITS
Japan manuscript
Dishes are served with the belief
That eating begins with the eyes.
So the more beautiful the presentation,
You’re in for a more tastier surprise!
Sound is also vital
The chef wants to hear you slurp the soup
You can feel the softness of the rice ball
And of course smell and taste the food.
Noodles are slurped loudly
Which symbolizes they’re delicious
It also cools the noodle down
Because a burnt tongue is not on the wish list.
Here is another interesting food fact
A blow-fish chef needs up to ten years of training!
A blow-fish is very poisonous, so it has to be cooked right
If not, there will be a lot of people complaining.
As they pulled up to the house
They thanked her friend for the ride.
“Please take off your shoes
Before you come inside.”
The lady informed them both
Of their usual traditions.
You must take off shoes and put on slippers
If the floor is raised six inches.
North Carolina manuscript
It really is quite interesting
Just how this all began.
John White set sail across the ocean
In search of new land.
Equipped with a strong team of 115
They departed from England August 15, 1590.
They traveled over 36k miles in just six weeks
But then again, who's counting?!
I know you’ve been reading for a while
So your mouth might be dry.
There’s a popular soft drink
You might want to try.
It was created in New Bern
And known around the world.
A drink that was originally made
In case your stomach curled…
Invented by a pharmacist
Named Davis Bradham
To ease the discomfort
Of all stomach cramps if you had em’.
You might’ve guessed it by now! It’s Pepsi-Cola!
And one thing you might not have known
Is just how it all started
And how much it has grown.
Today they have over 100 different flavors
In over 200 countries worldwide!
I can just imagine the amount of limited editions
My taste-buds will never get to try.
Among many natural wonders
Is the Jockey’s Ridge sand dune!
Just standing beside 30 million tons of sand
Is enough to make anyone swoon!
The winds blow from the southwest in the summer
And from the southeast during the wintertime.
They call it a “living dune” because of the maritime winds
That keeps shifting its shape and size.
They say a picture lasts a lifetime
Which couldn’t be truer in this case
Because what you see standing there today
Could one day be erased!
It’s engulfed a golf course in the 70’s
And even a hotel in the past!
This place has so much to see
But you’d better get there FAST!