Jeanne Gehret describes herself as a lifelong writer. Her first works were lost not because the dog ate them, or even the computer … it was because she wrote them in pencil! Just as her brother had warned her, over the years they had faded from the paper she’d written them on, lost forever. As she got older, Jeanne’s work moved from poems and stories to more technical writing. She worked for a civil engineering firm, where she wrote their publicity announcements.

When she became a mom, she became a freelance author so that she could stay home with her two children. In 1990, inspired by her son’s efforts to work through his learning disabilities, she began writing children’s stories to show kids – and their parents – that success is possible for every child.

Please welcome Jeanne Gehret.


MCA: Can you please tell us about the inspiration for The Coping Series of children’s picture books?

Jeanne: Our five-year-old son was struggling in school and unhappy at home because of learning disabilities (LD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Once we understood his problems, we knew what to do. He began behavioral therapy, we modified his educational plan, and also got counseling. As he improved, we became a much happier family. Unfortunately, it took us a long time to discover the source of the problems and how the school system worked, so we had many months of misery.

After talking with other families in similar situations, I discovered that our struggle to find answers was very common, and I set out to make others’ journey easier. My books provide simple language for parents to explain difficult brain-theory concepts to kids so youngsters can more effectively participate in their new programs at school and at home. They also promote understanding of invisible learning and attention problems among non-impaired classmates.

MCA: What are your goals for The Coping Series in the next year?
Jeanne: Here are the changes I’d like to see as a result of reading my books. For kids who have LD and ADD, I want them to know they are not alone and feel there is hope that they can improve. For parents, I want them to have more confidence when discussing these issues with their children and school personnel. It is also important for these kids’ classmates to understand and relate to these kids’ challenges and show more patience. .

So often kids with ADD and LD react to their difficulties by lashing out, withdrawing, or pretending the disabilities aren’t there. This pushes others away and makes the child with the problem lonelier than ever. By presenting the stories from the kids’ point of view with the accompanying emotions, I’m trying to help parents and classmates empathize with them.

MCA: If someone gave you air time for a 15-second commercial, how would you entice people to read The Coping Series?
Jeanne: For a child, the hardest part about having a learning disability or attention deficit disorder is feeling all alone. Three new picture books—The Don’t-give-up Kid, Eagle Eyes, and Houdini’s Gift—inspire youngsters with learning and behavior problems to understand themselves and use their strengths to create a better future. Recently awarded the Mom’s Choice Award®, this series by Verbal Images Press is loved by families and endorsed by professionals. Within the pages of these books kids will find quirky characters and cartoon-like drawings that entice them to pay attention to these stories designed to heal their hearts. Order at Amazon.com.

MCA: You started with an idea and now have a successful, award-winning Coping Series. Looking back on your journey, what was the easiest part? The hardest? What surprised you the most?

Jeanne: The easiest part was writing the first draft. The story just flowed out of me, perhaps because I’d been making up bedtime stories for my two children for so long. The first challenge came with the editing process. Six hundred words is an ideal length for a picture book, but my rough draft of Eagle Eyes had 1,500 words. Ultimately I had to leave out whole concepts and then fine-tune the manuscript word by word. I had great fun playing off the artwork so that at times the pictures carried the message and other times the words took the lead. For me, this interplay was especially important because the LD kids who read my books are often reluctant readers who are visual learners, so they get more from pictures than from words.

The hardest part was relying on internet connections to communicate with artists and designers in other cities. During our previous 20 years of publishing picture books, we always conducted this part of the work face-to-face. For me, the new technologies made things harder, not easier.

The most surprising – and horrifying – thing was to open the first printing only to have spots all over the illustrations. Fortunately, it was a very small print run and we were able to correct all the imperfections. That’s when I actually met the illustrator and vowed that in the future I will resume having a more personal connection with the person who puts my dream into pictures.

MCA: Since launching The Coping Series, what has been your most rewarding experience in promoting or sharing it with the public? Do you have a favorite memory? 
Jeanne: Earning five stars on Amazon is pretty cool! So is getting good reviews from people who really know these kids, magazines like Exceptional Parent, Attention, and ADDitude. Most personally rewarding was the morning I shared The Don’t-give-up Kid with a class of fourth-graders. Every teacher knows who I’m referring to when I mention the boy whose hand shot up in the air every time I asked a question, who waved his hand persistently until I either called on him or asked him to put it down. He mentioned all the visual cues I had designed into the illustrations that had no verbal descriptions, and his many comments showed that he completely understood and related to the story.

Later, his teacher told me that boy seldom sits still for stories because he has attention problems. All my hard work paid off in this one child who truly “got” my work. Dozens of messages from parents have been affirming, too—comments like “You’ve described my child so accurately” and “My child won’t go to sleep without first having your book read to her” let me know it’s all been worthwhile. Finally, seeing my books recommended time and again by teachers, social workers, pediatricians, and even college professors of special education let me know I’m on the right track.

MCA: Could you please tell us why you chose the Mom’s Choice Awards® program in seeking recognition for The Coping Series?
Jeanne: If I had known about Mom’s Choice when our son was first diagnosed, we would have been able to get help for him sooner. There are so many products and services out there today that parents can be overwhelmed with choices. It is great to have access to a list that has been screened by such an eminent group of judges.

MCA: What does it mean to you to be a Mom’s Choice Awards® alumnus?
Jeanne: Our books are represented by one of the most prominent distributors who carry books by independent presses. Knowing that twice a year they update their catalogs and sales reps, I’m aware of how important it is to keep them interested in our books. When I told them that our entire series had won the Mom’s Choice Award®, they sat up and took notice. They told me that was a very good award because it went to so many parenting magazines. In addition to that, I am, quite simply, honored to have my books selected for recognition by parents, children, and such eminent people as the creator of Reading Rainbow, Dr. Twila Liggitt.

MCA: What did you learn about yourself in the process of creating your award-winning children’s book series?
Jeanne: Although I have been writing and publishing for years, the technological aspects of creating this series presented me with obstacles I’d never faced before. There were many times when I wanted to give up, but I was fueled by a white-hot passion to help families as we had been helped. Trudging through the challenges one by one made me realize just how strong I am, and fans this crazy desire I have to birth another book that I believe in.

MCA: Would you recommend the Mom’s Choice Awards® to other entrepreneurs? If so, why?
Jeanne: I am proud to display the beautiful award seal on my books, website, and Facebook. In addition, many marketing opportunities become available as a result of being an honoree. For example, we have found cooperative mailings very helpful in the past, and Mom’s Choice Awards® Program offers special prices that are hard to beat.

MCA: How have you/your company benefited by being a Mom’s Choice Awards® honoree? Do you have any tangible examples?
Jeanne: Our distributor sent out a copy of the award announcement to all their sales reps and will note the award in their specialty catalogs to our niche markets. We have displayed the seal on our website, and I expect to see an increase in website traffic as a result of that and Facebook, Twitter, etc.

MCA: Jeanne, thank you for taking the time to tell us how your personal story inspired your series. We wish you, your family, and all the families you will help with this book the very best life has to offer.

Mom’s Choice Awards®  Honors
The Coping Series: The Don’t-give-up Kid and Learning Disabilities; Eagle Eyes, A Child’s Guide to Paying Attention; and Houdini’s Gift
Jeanne Gehret
illustrated by Michael LaDuca
Verbal Images Press, 2009

2010 Gold Recipient – Children’s Picture Book, Series

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