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Let's get right to the heart of it:
How did I become a children's book author?
My life story as traveling the world with a military family a curious and adventurous story-loving child, while experiencing the love of family and friends far and wide and still encountering ordinary childhood experiences is what informs the growing Adventures of Destiny and Worm book series.
The Adventures of Destiny and Worm Book Series
Sweet Potato & Mud Pies
What's Next? It's a Mystery!
Sweet Potato & Mud Pies
Destiny and Worm's adventure takes place in Grandma's backyard garden, also known as the Out Back in Arizona's Sonoran Desert. Destiny and Grandma prepare for sweet potato harvest season and Destiny discovers how to make a special pie. What kind of pie is she going to make?
This book can support children in practicing gardening skills, developing their sensorimotor skills, and engaging in mathematical skills.
Picture Day
What's Next? It's a Mystery!
Sweet Potato & Mud Pies
Destiny has a big day ahead of her: it's picture day today! Join Destiny as she excitedly goes through her daily routine, connects with family and friends, and faces big decisions each step of the way.
This book can support children in preparing for picture day, taking care of their hair and bodies, and practicing decision-making skills.
What's Next? It's a Mystery!
What's Next? It's a Mystery!
What's Next? It's a Mystery!
The Adventures continue! Destiny and Worm will take their curiosity and love of nature and play along with them wherever they go!
Subscribe to Diona's quarterly email newsletter and follow her on social media to be in the loop on the release of the third book in the series.
Event Spotlights: One Past, One Upcoming
June 2023: Five Kindergarten Classes at Woodway Center (Edmonds, Washington)
June 2023: Five Kindergarten Classes at Woodway Center (Edmonds, Washington)
June 2023: Five Kindergarten Classes at Woodway Center (Edmonds, Washington)
Woodway Center's Children's Library welcomed Diona to read Sweet Potato & Mud Pies to all five of their kindergarten classes.
Before, during, and after reading the story, Diona facilitated a discussion with the children. Since the event was held in June, the children had a lot to share about their own summer gardening and how to make mud and mud pies!
October 2023: Desert Foothills Book Festival (Scottsdale, Arizona)
June 2023: Five Kindergarten Classes at Woodway Center (Edmonds, Washington)
June 2023: Five Kindergarten Classes at Woodway Center (Edmonds, Washington)
Diona will be at the Desert Foothills Book Festival which "exists to promote literacy and a love of reading among adults and children by creating an interactive and inclusive venue for readers and authors to connect."
The festival is free to attend! Stop by Diona's booth on Saturday October 21, 2023.
Who?
We host book events for young and old and everyone in between.
My book series is geared to children ages 3 to 7. Each book includes an activity guide after the story that is accessible to all caregivers and educators.
Do you want to co-host an event for children at your childcare learning environment (as pictured)? Do you want to co-host an event for families with young children at your local community center or museum?
Who in your local community and larger network would benefit from the Adventures of Destiny and Worm book series?
After we figure out the "who," we can get to the "what."
What?
I partner with you to determine activities that will support engagement, learning, and, of course, connective fun!
Depending on the "who," I can read one or both Adventures with Destiny and Worm stories and lead a developmentally appropriate discussion before, during, and after the story. I offer these services at no cost to you with the intention of accessibly sharing the joy of reading.
In addition to reading aloud the story and leading a discussion, I can offer activities for a pre-determined fee (determined by number of children) to cover supplies and additional time.
Example Activities Sweet Potato & Mud Pies:
- make delicious "mud pies" with Oreo crumble, gummy worms, and chocolate pudding
- learn with "mud" sensory bins with a provocation involving gardening supplies
Example Activities for Picture Day:
- decorate wooden picture frames
- snap insta-photos of one another for inside the wooden frames or magnetic frames
After the "what" comes the "where and when!"
Where and When?
I love traveling and I love traveling even more when I have the opportunity to read and connect with you and your local community through my stories!
I travel near and far for book events with most of my out-of-state travel occurring between May and July.
As my schedule allows, I can coordinate to join forces with other programming such as back-to-school events, fundraisers, or book festivals.
Usually, I co-host events with timeframes between 30 minutes to two hours.
After the "where and when" are determined, we center ourselves with the "why."
Why?
The why won't be forgotten, it's what drives me every day to write and be an independent author.
Why do you feel called to partner with me and bring the Adventures of Destiny and Worm to your community?
Will this be the very first assembly your students will participate in? Will this be a back-to-school haircutting event where Picture Day can exhibit the value in caring for our hair? Or will this be an event that spotlights independent authors and the unique stories we all have inside us?
The why is what will bring us together and carry us forward.
Two Books & Goodies Galore!
Order an end of year bundle for a young child in your life. Get ready for them to be inspired to garden, bake, and snap photos!