Almost & Always

This is a book of 10 children's poems/stories . . . each with a moral lesson inside. The characters in the poems have names that are personality traits and the poems are parables containing moral lessons derived from the names. In this way, the ethical teachings come across clearly as the stories and characters unfold. My hope is that the subject matter creates a dialogue between parents and children/teachers and students about the underlying message. In that sense, I hope the book is also a "children's book for adults" - and that it reminds us all of the importance of the moral imperative. The writing style pays homage to Shel Silverstein - one of the most gifted poets at bridging the gap between young and old . . . and finding the little adults in children . . . and the little children in adults. The 10 poems are entitled: "Almost and Always," "Want and Didn't," "Rumor and Reason," "Bully and Brave," "Listen," "Why and Because," "Messy and Clean," "Forgive and Forget," "Beauty and Ugly" and "Sister and Brother."