Am I different?

Its a question kids ask themselves a lot. Often children who feel different struggle to connect with other kids and adults. This can lead to a child feeling isolated and misunderstood.

Their reasoning for feeling different can come from anything: unique clothes or fashion sense; eating unusual foods that other kids don’t like. It can also be something bigger, like having a disability. Add to that the fact that kids’ awareness generaly focuses on themselves first. They may not sense that other kids have feelings “just like them.”

Lonna has devoted her career to helping kids. After graduating from Boston University in a degree in physical therapy, Lonna worked physical therapist and disability awareness programs volunteer. Drawing on her experience as a physical therapist working with kids, Lonna wrote [amazon_link id=”0983937303″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Monty the Menace: Understanding Differences[/amazon_link], a story about an accident-prone kitten whose inability to see clearly causes him to get into trouble.

Lonna lives in Michigan with her husband, two children, and two granddaughters. Please welcome Lonna to the Spotlight!

MCA: Welcome to the spotlight Lonna! Can you please tell us about what motivated you to create your Monty character and the book?
Lonna:  I am a physical therapist. For several years I taught a disability awareness program to first and second graders. Their questions and remarks started me thinking about ways to help more kids understand differences.

I have always loved to read and the idea of putting what I was teaching into book form soon followed. It was truly a labor of love and working with my illustrator, Dave Messing, added to the fun.

MCA: Now that you have an award-winning children’s book, what are your goals for the next year?
Lonna: I will use marketing, readings, and book signings to raise awareness of the Monty the Menace book itself, and take the opportunity to share the lesson this book teaches: differences, no matter how small, can be traumatic for youngsters, and that others need to understand this and accept those differences.

I also plan to start work on the next book in my series about understanding differences. My career as a physical therapist has offered so many opportunities to tell stories just like this one.

MCA: Those are pretty broad goals. Have you thought about ways your Mom’s Choice Award® will help you be successful in reaching them?
Lonna:  The Mom’s Choice Awards® group has been wonderfully supportive since I received my award. They have and continue to spread the word about their winners, offer many helpful suggestions regarding marketing, and provide social media contacts that connect me to other authors who offer advice and opportunities.

For me, the networking is most helpful!

MCA: The transition from physical therapist to children’s author is pretty big. Can you share with us what you learned about yourself as an writer in creating your award-winning book?
Lonna: Going through the process of writing “Monty” enforced how much I love to write and to work with children.

I realized that by writing this book I opened the door to continued interactions with children and future opportunities to write and find enjoyment in my retirement.

MCA: Since launching your book, what has been your most rewarding experience in raising awareness about differences with kids? Do you have a favorite memory?
Lonna: March is National Reading Month, and I enjoyed reading to the students in grades K-3 in several elementary schools in Michigan.

It was great fun to interact with the kids and to enjoy their responses to Monty. I also had several delightfully funny moments. As I entered one class and was introduced as an author, a young man called out “Are you rich?” In another class a young lady scrutinized the book, looked at me and said “That’s quite a house for a CAT!”

MCA: As a new honoree, do you have any questions you’d like some of the “old hands” to answer for you?
Lonna: I am always looking for ways to promote “Monty” and to attract a wider audience. Any suggestions in this area are very welcome.

MCA: Thanks for stopping by Lonna! We hope you’ll consider entering the next book in our Program.

Mom’s Choice Awards® Honors

Monty the Menace: Understanding Differences
written by Lonna Baum
illustrated by Dave Messing
Baum & Baum LLC, 2012
Children’s Picture Books
Gold – Values & Life Lessons

Contact, Connect, and Network with Lonna

The Alumni Spotlight is a periodic feature on the official Mom’s Choice Awards® blog. It is part of our ongoing effort to “shine the spotlight” on you and your award-winning, family-friendly products, services, and media.