For about seven years, I wrote a poem a week and posted it on a blog. 

I’m not sure why, exactly. 

Anyway, one week I was noodling on a poem about gratitude. Whether it could be not-cheesy, and how far I could push the things I was grateful for. 

I mean, it’s easy to be grateful for sunshine or good health or my children. But could I also be grateful for traffic or rain or mistakes I made? 

Since my brain defaults to irreverence, I ended up writing a poem called “Messy Blessings.” Which evolved into our latest book. 

“Messy Blessings” is illustrated by Madeline Barber, a wonderful artist from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Even more than bringing my words to vivid life with her illustrations, Madeline turned a poem into a story.

I’m thrilled with how the book came out and super-proud of our 320 team. 

That’s Madeline.

You can buy the book on Amazon (and thanks a ton if you do), but — since we stand behind the idea that reading with kids can change the world for the better — you can also download a PDF version for free. 

Just print it out and read it to a kid. Voila! The world starts changing.

Thanks for joining this read-aloud adventure with us. 

Are we blessed or what? 🙂

Happy reading.

Jeff, Bob, and Zoe …
… who believe that reading with kids can change the world for the better

P.S. Madeline is also illustrating our next book, “Scar and the Wolf.” (See below.)

“Scar and the Wolf” Chapter 1:
Happy Unearthday, Scarlet

Illustration by Madeline Barber.

Who are you, really, when you turn 13? 

Yesterday you were a kid. Today you’re stumbling into adulthood. 

Part of you is ready to speak like an adult and think like an adult. Part of you wants Mom to make you breakfast. 

Part of you is giddy with freedom. Part of you is terrified of freedom. 

Part of you wants to talk about grownup things, like how much houses cost and will they cost more next year. Part of you wants to daydream about that cape you saw at the market, how it shimmered like water, how beautiful you’d look in it. 

But one way or another, all the conflicting parts eventually move in the same direction.

Mostly. 

Sometimes a part — like an arm or a foot, say — wants its independence so fiercely it flees its body. 

I mean, we’re talking about zombies, after all. 

Read chapter 1.  

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