Little Pencil Finds His Forever Friends: A Rhyming Pencil Grip Picture Book (Paperback or Softback)

Christine Calabrese grew up with her three siblings on Long Island's North Shore, where she enjoyed running, swimming, climbing and playing outdoors. Her father, who was a great storyteller, captivated her imagination each night with his original bedtime tales, while summer sleep away camp further expanded her ability to spin a tale. Christine is an award-winning educator with a passionate desire to help children navigate the wonderful world of learning. She lives with her forever friend and loving husband, John, who is also her editor. When not writing, she loves automobile outings, nature walks, horseback riding, dogs, cooking, tutoring, teacher training, exercise, singing, country & rock music, prayer, and laughter with good friends.

I was raised in the beautiful countryside of Argentina, where she cultivated a love of nature, children and family. I love animals especially dogs and horses. In elementary school, I enjoyed more freedom than most as I sometimes snuck out of class to sit with my mother, the school principal! In Argentina, I studied Graphic Design at the Gracia Loca Institute and in Guam I practiced graphic design at American Printing. I love all kinds of artwork and I love children. The illustrations in this book were a pleasure to create. I live in Bushwick, Brooklyn NY and am studying elementary education while working as a paraprofessional. I live with my active son, Dorian and my little Pomeranian dog, Asher.

I am a homeschooling mom with a background of pediatric occupational therapy (OT). I studied Occupational Therapy at the University of Cape Town, graduated with my BSc in OT in 1997, and completed my postgrad studies in Sensory Integration in 2001. I spent 6 years working in pediatric private practice in Cape Town, South Africa, focusing on Learning Disabilities and Sensory Processing Disorders. I have been married to André le Roux since 1998 and we have 3 beautiful children - 2 boys and a girl. Since relocating to Hermanus in 2002, I have focused more on being a mom and a pastor's wife, and homeschooling my three kids. However, from 2006 to 2015, I worked part time at Enlighten Education Trust, an NGO that supports local schools. Using my Occupational Therapy skills, I designed and implemented an enrichment program for impoverished Grade 1 learners who are entering the school system without the basic skills they need for learning. The program covers fine motor and gross motor skills, visual and spatial perception and laying the foundation for the Three R's. My passion is for children to be excited about and equipped for learning, and this means having the skills they need to learn. I try to empower parents to help their children, and have also run training workshops for teachers to give them activities to use in their classrooms. Most of these parents, teachers and kids have limited funds, so I have concentrated on activities that use everyday, inexpensive materials. The program I started is now being implemented by other members of the team, and I am available as a consultant when needed. My work for Enlighten Education Trust inspired me to begin a website that would empower parents and teachers to help the kids in their lives get ready for school - and so OT Mom Learning Activities was born in 2009. My website is full of practical ideas that parents can implement at home, and it has been a privilege to connect with parents and teachers all over the world in this way. Homeschooling my own growing children fills my days, and I often use my OT skills to help them overcome their own unique challenges, including various sensory processing issues, visual and auditory processing delays and some fine motor and coordination issues. It has been such a privilege to customize their learning journey through homeschooling and hands-on OT Mom activities! As a Christian, it has been a blessing to serve the Lord Jesus in my life, and to learn to depend daily upon Him. He helped me overcome a serious hearing impairment and enabled me to study and serve in the areas He placed in my life. In 2015 and 2016, the Lord blessed me with the miracle of cochlear implants, which have radically changed my experience of the world, and I am so grateful! John 10:10 "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full [abundantly]" May Jesus get the glory for everything He has done in my life!