How Tumpsky and Mrs Small Came About

I Want Help Kids Learn To Read

So I Read Picture Books Aloud...

Which Lead Me to Writing and Illustrating Two of My Own Picture Books...

Which Further Lead Me to Becoming a Preschool Teacher...

Which lead me to Reading Picture Books Aloud on YouTube channel for Kids, 

and to Start my Own Channel Called Tumpsky and Mrs Small!

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    Turning a new page in Mrs. Small's life was a challenge to be sure (2016). After moving to Placer County, for various reasons, I needed to make some big changes. I wanted to reinvent myself uplifting my spirits to a brighter level so to speak. I joined a great church called Granite Springs Church and helped with Bible study teaching young children about the Bible. The kids gave me great confidence and reminded me of when I raised my own kids, and how much I'd missed being a role model to them. I really enjoyed raising my children, it gave me purpose. I still had energy for helping kids and I knew I was going to make kids my focus.

    Before I moved, I had taken a night class on the subject of Children's Literature at Canada College in San Mateo. We studied different genres and authors and topics of interest. I loved the class and still sometimes talk to that teacher today. The class taught me how to read aloud in front of other people and perform little skits with props we'd make. Like once I made a monkey paper puppet and an alligator prop to tell the story in front of the class. So I started doing funny voices and using items to puppetize characters. This class brought me out of my shy shell a bit more, it taught me it's O.K. to be goofy in front of other people. The teacher would say, "your audience are children, they love when you get animated and silly!"

    Somehow I knew I had to be a teacher so I went back to school at night to earn 9 more units of ECE to be certified for teaching preschool.    

    While I was a student at Sierra College, I worked part-time and worked on my first children's book. It was a great escape and I felt proud I could show others that I somehow attained art skills growing up. I worked on it off and on, determined to finish it. It was slow going and It took me three years to finish, but it kept me content when I was alone. It gave me something to do, be challenged by, and focused on the positive. In truth my kids helped me come up with a story as it pertained to our lives to some degree.

    My first book is called, "Tree's Adventure Making New Friends." Everyone wanted it to become a series... (but we'll see I kind of have book burn out).  

    Here is a synopsis of the book:

 A tree uproots himself and sets out on a quest to make new friends. He tries to befriend everyone he encounters without understanding why others are frightened of him. He learns new things about himself about being different than other tree's. He learns not everyone is the same. And not everyone can be your friend, and that you should be with the ones who like your company and want you around.

Here are some illustrations from the book.

MY Published AVAILABLE BOOKS FOR PURCHASE

@tumpskyandmrssmallpublications or
https://www.facebook.com/tumpskyandmrssmallpublications/
 
📌 (1)Tree’s Adventure Making New Friends: ISBN: 978-0-692-78174-6 https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07SV5GJ2F
📌 (2) A to Z 26 Alphabetic Alliterations-Apple Alligator to Zucchini Zebra:
ISBN=978-0-578-67609-8 https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07SV5GJ2F