A baboon in a zoo finds himself feeling sorrowful and blue- then a friend, a bee, shows him a different point of view. That act of kindness completely changed his outlook on life- along the way, his journey is dotted with acts of kindness, empathy and caring.
A longtime dream of Jenny Westbrook of Adrian, Mo has been realized with the release of her first children’s book Bazookabaloo Just Had To Believe that urges children to make the choice to be positive and have gratitude in life. The budding author has an impressive resume with over 20 years as a dance studio owner and 13 years as graphic designer (she owns Clockworks Design in Adrian offering screen printing, home decor and more) as well as a full service photography business. Add to that, her home life includes husband Rob, her youngest son Walker and furry companions Milo and Molly.
So, when would someone so busy have time to write a book? Westbrook says she’s wanted to do it since she was a little girl, citing one of her favorite childhood books Grindle Lamfoon and the Procurnious Fleekers, a story about a bird too poor to buy a costume for the May Day parade written by author Valerie Hubbard Damon. Jenny says simply “the time was right” to get busy on the project and despite hectic schedules, Rob and her family gave her the little push she needed, telling her she needed to follow her dream.
That came some additional, unexpected support. “It turns out” she said “my father actually knew Valerie Damon and I actually got to meet her!” smiled Jenny as she went on to say that Damon was quite supportive and gave her plenty of pointers on how to navigate the publishing process, which can be a bit grueling. But patience and perseverance pays in big ways- hot off the presses, the first books will be available this week.
When asked what was the inspiration for Bazookabaloo Just Had To Believe she said “I wanted to write something that was truly inspiring that would help children learn to be more positive about life.” She added that her own childhood personal experiences are part of her work which adds a very personal element as well.
When quizzed about the illustrations, Jenny says she questioned her artistic ability, however it seems perfectly fitting for the targeted age group of 3 to about 9 years old and our assessment was yes, it is spot on.
A summary from the first book in Westbrook’s Polkadot Pickle book series brings together imaginative journey began as a personal odyssey, using childhood dreams to heal from past traumas and transforming into a mission to guide others in the discovery of happiness and self-love.
At the heart of her series lies the inaugural book, “Bazookabaloo Just Had to Believe,” a vibrant tale brimming with colorful polkadots and heartfelt lessons in gratitude and positive thinking. Through Bazookabaloo’s adventures children will be guided toward embracing kindness, love, optimism and of course spreading polkadots!
With each turn of the page, young readers embark on an imaginative escapade, discovering the trans-formative power of a positive perspective amidst life’s challenges. Jenny’s mission is clear—to inspire children to find joy and self-love through her tales, sprinkled with the magic of spreading polkadots.
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| Jenny had the honor of meeting her favorite author and mentor, Valerie Hubbard Damon |
In the meantime, the book can be purchased through Amazon, Barnes & Nobel and more information can be found at www.PolkadotPickleBooks.com as well as Facebook here.
Jenny can also be reached at PolkdotPickleBooks@gmail.com as well as by text message at 816-808-4209. Best of luck and we’re proud of you Jenny!
