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WELCOME

What a child hears lasts a lifetime. Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me. How sad, if believed. A child with a disability will often encounter hurtful words. Feelings of not being good enough, or smart enough are universal themes impacting children around the world.. A Disney CEO, after reading the 'Snow Queen' thought the main charterer's power to turn everything into ice was a disability. And that is what the theme of 'Frozen' became. And it is this writer's belief that for the 37% of American children NOT BEING ABLE TO READ PROFICIENTLY ABOVE A THIRD GRADE LEVEL THIS IS A DISABILITY.

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​The success of Iceland's beginning reading program, despite the complexity of their language, produces a high literacy rate. Educators in Iceland understand when a child learns letters have their own special reading sounds, a child learns to read. They teach beginning readers, not through ABC stories, but through adventure stories–stories in which children within the stories teach the reading sounds alphabet letters make. In Iceland these storybook children become as well-known as the Disney Princesses and Marvel Super Heroes.

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Keiko's story revolves around the heartbreak of a child falling behind their friends in school. Sir Ruben Rainbow, a boy of many colors, takes Keiko to Rainbowland and into The Land of Sounds. As the child learns to read in  a fantasyland, they learn the most important thing in life is not treading or writing, and the value of someone is not measured in how smart they are. "You will stay forever in this darkness," shouts the Wild Wild Wind, who does everything in his power to stop Keiko from learning to read. On her journey Keiko encounters other fantasy characters such as dragons, sea monsters, water angels, fairies and witches--witches who turn out not to be witches. And a flyiing pony.

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​REVIEW: Shepherd Siegel, PhD, author of Disruptive Play.

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Carla Janes-Heneghan has spun a tale as delightful as it is unique. With stunning illustrations that bring the reader into this fantasy world; we ride along with Keiko in adventures with Babu Mischief, Bright Star, Captain Renaissance Red, Sir Turtle, The Wild Wild Wind, and many more. Meant to be read aloud, Taylor Keiko Mochizuki & Sir Rubén Rainbow in the Land of Sounds teaches struggling readers how to break through to fluency, and teaches other children empathy for them...plus it's a wild and dazzling ride. 

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