I’m so pleased to announce the publication of my first children’s book, And So Can She. This project has been about a year and a half in the making and I’m so proud to finally be bringing it to homes and schools. As a “girl mom” and female myself, I am ambitious about creating a better world for women. My hope is that through my writing, I can use my passion for gender equality and expertise in elementary education to help empower children, especially young girls, to pursue their dreams, never letting gender restrict their choices.
And So Can She started as a poem I wrote for my two-year-old daughter, Lucy, one night when I was unable to sleep. My husband, Alex, a college football coach, and Lucy have a very close relationship. Lucy looks up to Alex, always trying to imitate him by blowing a whistle, snapping a football between her legs, jumping over cones, etc. I thought to myself – what if Lucy decides she wants to be a coach when she grows up? A career that is often male dominated. Well, as a mom to a young girl in a world where women are often viewed as less than men, I feel I have an extra responsibility to raise my daughter to know that the world belongs as much to girls as it does to boys. Girls are allowed and entitled to create a space for themselves wherever they choose – whatever their interests or passions may be, and for that to be okay. I figured - what better way to get this message across to my daughter, and children everywhere, then by putting it into a book that can be enjoyed repeatedly and passed along to schools, family, friends, and future generations?
And So Can She is an empowering picture book written for young girls everywhere - a bright, engaging reminder that she’s smart, capable, and holds a valuable place in the world. Through charming rhyme and vibrant illustrations, children learn to look past gender norms and are encouraged to pursue their passions. And So Can She is a radiant celebration of girl power and the perfect book to inspire big dreams. The target audience is children in preschool through fifth grade.
The most difficult part about writing this book was figuring out how to make it engaging and inspiring for children. I knew the words, along with the illustrations, had to grab and maintain the attention of the readers. I have always looked up to authors such as Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein because of the creative rhyme and joy they brought to their books and poems. I, too, wanted the message of And So Can She to be conveyed through a sound pattern of words that simply “fit together” and overall, can be remembered…even quoted. I mean, how many times have we all quoted “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss? A book with fantastic rhyme and a beautiful message: You’re off to great places, Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So…get on your way!” I also wanted my book to include repetition and pattern, one of the most familiar features in children’s literature. The line, “…and so can she” is repeated on almost every page throughout the book, helping young readers to remember these important words and again, reinforce the message that girls are capable of anything. Repetition and rhyme also create a lot of discussion during read-alouds in a classroom, which can lead to important conversations among students. My hope is that elementary school teachers will use this book in their classrooms to introduce and reinforce topics such as equity and gender equality in their curriculums.
Once the words to the story were complete, I worked closely with my incredibly talented illustrator, Carolyn Parks, who created beautiful, bright, engaging images to match. It was very important to the both of us to make sure the illustrations portrayed diversity so that all readers could relate to the characters and connect to the book. Extra special thank you to Carolyn for making this book and important message come to life with the most beautiful illustrations!
About the Author
Personal Bio – My name is Lauren Bresner and I am a special educator and mother. My daughter, Lucy, is two-years-old and I am currently expecting boy/girl twins in June! I graduated from Boston University in 2013 with a degree in elementary and special education. After graduation, I worked as a teacher at a preschool in Brookline, MA and earned my certification in early childhood education. I enjoyed working with toddlers but soon realized I wanted to return to special education at the elementary level. My next job was in Lynn, MA at Hood Elementary School where I worked as an inclusion specialist for both first and third grade. After three years in the North Shore, I married my husband and moved to Western Massachusetts. I currently teach second grade special education at Meadow Brook School in East Longmeadow, MA. I love dogs, tennis, traveling, and occasionally play the ukulele.
Amazon Link to And So Can She: https://amzn.to/3q1hgrX
Social Media Links:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lauren.pleeter
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lpleetbrez/?hl=en
Twitter - https://twitter.com/LaurenBresner
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