The Alumni Spotlight is a periodic feature of the Mom’s Choice Awards® blog. It is part of our ongoing effort to “shine the spotlight” on our honorees and their contributions to promoting excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. We share their stories not only to celebrate their accomplishments, but to give you an opportunity to see the benefits of being part of the Mom’s Choice Awards family of programs.

With the Fourth of July just around the corner, it seems only appropriate that we catch up with Clare Ham Grosgebauer, owner of Small Wonders Enterprises and creator of Snickerdoodle™. Her picture book Snickerdoodle! A Tall Tale about a Powerful Pee-Wee won the 2005 Gold Award in the Children’s Books category.

MCA: Welcome Clare to the Alumni Spotlight. We’re glad you could join us today. Can you please tell us about the inspiration for your product?
Clare: Thanks for inviting me. When I was growing up, my grandfather told us stories about a tiny hero who had adventures in a “peanutmobile.” He would outwit bullies and bad guys with humor and imagination. As conceived by my grandfather, Snickerdoodle was a humble and lesser known figure in the famous “Doodle” family of American folklore—his uncle was Yankee Doodle, and his cousin, Polly Wolly Doodle. As a child, I always knew I would one day grow up to write and share Snickerdoodle and his message of with children everywhere. It is a great joy to find that even techno-savvy kids and their parents today, still find Snickerdoodle to be a valued friend and role model for a nonviolent superhero.

MCA: You started with an idea and now have a successful, award-winning product. Looking back on your journey, what was the easiest part? The hardest? What surprised you the most?
Clare: The creative stuff was the most fun: Imagining, writing the stories and music for the CD, designing the website, etc. The hardest parts STILL are learning not to take rejection personally, not to let myself get burdened by all the rules and endless business details and to not allow anything or anyone to take away my joy. I guess the biggest surprise is that it took almost 40 years (and about 100 rejections) to finally see the Snickerdoodle™ books published. What I thought was a strictly American character apparently has global appeal. Snickerdoodle books have gone to China, Australia, and were requested in Egypt!

MCA: Since launching Snickerdoodle and Small Wonders Enterprises, what has been your most rewarding experience in promoting or sharing it with the public? Do you have a favorite memory?
Clare: Wow. It is hard to pick just one! The best experiences have come from traveling, sharing Snickerdoodle books at conferences and festivals – even the Virginia Peanut Festival! I love it when people share their stories, too. There is a mom in Texas whose two little boys liked Snickerdoodle so much that she decided to do a Snickerdoodle-theme birthday party and gave the books as favors. In lieu of presents for her boys she starting a giving tree so kids could donate to a local charity. (See what “powerful peewees can do!”) It was equally fun to learn of a second grade teacher who had her class imagine, write, and draw their own Snickerdoodle adventures. I was thrilled when I was asked to present Snickerdoodle stories at a children’s museum. Forty years ago, I shared one of the first version of what would become the Mom’s Choice winning “Snickerdoodle” book. A kindergartner in that crowd had shouted out happily, “Snickerdoodle belongs in a museum!!”

MCA: Snickerdoodle has been traveling for a number of years now. Are there more adventures ahead? What are your goals for your “powerful peewee” in the next year?
Clare: A lot of what we do now starts with the Snickerdoodle website. It is the home for books and other Snickerdoodle™ products, but it is really dedicated to sparking kids’ imaginations with creative writing/storytelling/art activities. We also have classroom resources and lesson plans for pre-K-3 teachers, librarians, and parents. In the coming year, I hope to continue to broaden contacts with teachers and parents, visit more schools with storytelling presentations, and possibly redesign/update the website to reflect 2.0 applications and add a blog or calendar, etc.

MCA: If someone gave you air time for a 15-second commercial, how would you entice people to read Snickerdoodle? Clare: Do you love a good story? Remember the cozy childhood feeling of curling up with your favorite book or toy? Of having a parent or grandparent read to you, sharing a favorite story, rhyme, or song over and over again? At snickerdoodleforkids.com, you can renew the art of family storytelling and stimulate your kids’ imagination and creativity. Reaffirm timeless values of courage, self-respect, and caring for others. Find a safe time-out from a fast-tracked, techno-stressed world. Let your kids can slow down and rediscover old fashioned fun, share a story and a laugh, and celebrate the power of the little guy to make a big difference.
Put a little “Snickerdoodle” in your day!

MCA: Could you please tell us why you chose the Mom’s Choice Awards® program in seeking recognition for Snickerdoodle?
Clare: The timing was perfect!! In 2004-2005, when I was in the process of publishing “Snickerdoodle,” I saw an ad for the very first Mom’s Choice Award submissions in a newsletter for independent publishers. The purpose and scope of the awards resonated with me, and I felt so grateful that this opportunity for support and recognition was being given to entrepreneurial moms. I knew I had to enter!

MCA: What does it mean to you to be a Mom’s Choice Awards® alumnus?
Clare: As each year goes by, and the Moms Choice Awards® become more widely known, I am so grateful that I can count myself included in this amazing family of community-spirited, service-minded, visionary thinking, creative folks who are Mom’s Choice Award winners. The original gold seal that I place on my books attracts respect and more recognition now, and I don’t have to say a word. I heard a librarian at a conference say“Look, [Snickerdoodle] won the Mom’s Choice Award!”

MCA: What did you learn about yourself in the process of creating your award-winning book?
Clare: I learned the value of persistence and never doubting the value of the purpose, vision , and mission. I learned about trusting that the right colleagues, partners, and supporters will show up at the right time. There are no “failures,” rather every experiences is a good one for learning and growing. Having been a solitary writer most of my life, I learned more about teamwork. Gandhi’s words — “We must become the change we are seeking in the world.” — are so true. As are Mother Teresa’s: “We can all do small things with great love.” When we do this, we are really thinking big and expanding our world!!

MCA: Would you recommend the Mom’s Choice Awards® to other entrepreneurs? If so, why?
Clare: YES! Because it will affirm you and bless you in amazing ways!

MCA: How have you and your company benefited by being a Mom’s Choice Awards® honoree? Are there any tangible examples that stick out for you?
Clare: Unsolicited praise from some notable or famous people has been an unexpected surprise, such as a note of appreciation from former First Lady Laura Bush. I also got to give one of my heroes, former President Jimmy Carter the Snickerdoodle™ books. That was deeply moving for me. Being a Mom’s Choice Award® winner has given me confidence to share more widely, and I can think of at least two instances where a school or camp or summer reading program has asked for “Snickerdoodle” partly because of that Award!!

MCA: Clare, thank you for taking the time not only to share the story of Snickerdoodle™ and your journey as an entrepreneur, but in being an ambassador for the Mom’s Choice Awards program. We wish you a very happy Independence Day.

Clare: Thank you very much. As Snickerdoodle reminds us – we can all be heroes!