I’m so excited to share that my latest picture book is out in the world! MARVELOUS is an incredibly special story celebrating a child with ADHD for the marvel that he is. It is part of The Incredible Kids Collection and I believe it’s an amazing follow-up to SPARKLE.
MARVELOUS, and all my books, are my attempt to increase inclusive representation in literature, specifically in picture books. For so many years, so many kids have been underrepresented in the books that they read. Even today, you would be hard-pressed to find 20 picture book titles that feature and celebrate a child with ADHD through a story that can be loved and understood by children.
As a classroom teacher, I have been lucky to teach children with ADHD over the years. In my private life, some of my closest relationships (including friends and family) are with people who have ADHD. I wanted to celebrate neurodiversity and the ADHD mind. My passion (as an author, teacher, and human) is to shine a light on the fact that we don’t all think the same — diversity of minds is beautiful.
Beyond this, as a teacher, I love picture books that I can use as read-alouds in my classroom. In addition to celebrating underrepresented children, I write the books I wish were out there, that I could read aloud to my students to introduce lessons and units of exploration. Every year, I explore a unit on building & construction with students (through STEM and/or science). Beyond being a book that celebrates ADHD, this special story is also the perfect read aloud to introduce a building project, a STEM exploration, or a unit on building & construction. This story can be used to discuss materials, structures, building techniques, shapes, blueprints and the design cycle.
Every time I self-publish a new book, I put my heart and soul into the entire process. From the very beginning, I have a vision for each book. Self-publishing is such a beautiful avenue, as I have complete control over every aspect of the book and can truly execute my vision without any other voices impacting my opinion. So, when the book is finally published, I know, without a doubt, that I influenced every little bit of the finished book (beyond writing the story), including editing, art direction, blurb-writing, book design, cover design and marketing. It is a true labour of love.
I take great pride in the books I release. I want them to resemble traditionally published picture books as much as possible. I want them to be viewed as quality books that are worthy enough to be read to children around the world. I want teachers to pick up my books and enthusiastically read them to their students. I want them to become family favourites.
Part of my marketing plan with my latest release was to submit the book to Kirkus Reviews Magazine for a professional review. Kirkus is one of the top literary review magazines in the publishing industry. It is held in high regard. A positive review from Kirkus can kick-start an author’s entire career. At the same time, Kirkus can be ruthless. They don’t give out good reviews easily. When you submit your book, you hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. As an indie author, Kirkus is also expensive. If you don’t feel confident in your book, it’s not worth it. However, if you feel confident that you have a quality book, the investment can pay off big time!
My book, MASTERPIECE, the first in The Incredible Kids Collection, actually earned a Kirkus Star, one of the most coveted designations in the book industry (the Kirkus Star marks books of exceptional merit)! Not only did this recognition lead to exposure and more people finding my book, but it also resulted in interest from traditional publishers (more on that in a future post).
MARVELOUS was not only given a positive review, but Kirkus also gave a verdict of “Get It”!
Beyond the glowing review in Kirkus, Readers’ Favorite also awarded MARVELOUS with a 5-star review, sharing that, “Marvelous is an incredible book that helps children with ADHD see their unique abilities as beneficial qualities rather than challenges to be ashamed of. The story is immersive and inspiring, offering an optimistic outlook on creative thinking, thinking outside the box, self-love, and empathy for others. Hoffman does an excellent job of balancing both the educational and fun aspects of the book, offering a positive spin on ADHD while still highlighting some of its challenges. Marvelous will be a fantastic addition to any library. Teachers and parents can easily use it to help encourage empowerment, resilience, and confidence in children with ADHD.”
Marcus loves to build! Every material is an invitation to explore and every day is an opportunity to create. But, when it comes time to work on other activities besides building, he struggles to focus. When his teacher asks his class to draw a blueprint, Marcus completes the project in a way that makes sense to him. A perfect book to introduce kids to the many ways we can show our thinking, MARVELOUS is an inclusive story that celebrates a child with ADHD who thinks outside the box.
This inspiring inclusive book teaches children:
There are many different ways to show your thinking
It’s beautiful to think outside the box
Neurodiversity is a superpower
All brains are different and that’s special!
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