Life isn't fair. We learn this as early as kindergarten, but for some, like Alyssa, the experience can be downright challenging. Today is her first day at Lee Ponder Intermediate School, and along with learning new names, faces, and classrooms, she has to maintain her secret. One that she doesn't want anyone to know, not even her new best friend, Onika. You see, Alyssa and her mom are homeless.
When Alyssa is assigned a writing assignment (to write a letter to a student in Alabama whose school and home have been destroyed by a tornado) that she bears her soul. It is when the note is lost and believes it has been found by the school's bully, Marcus, that things drastically change for Alyssa and her mom.
This book has been enjoyed by readers as young as second grade, and the comments from parents, educators, children, counselors, and more may be summed up in this one sentence, "Although Alyssa and her mom are homeless, they are not hopeless."
The book may be used in conjunction with classroom Standard of Learning subjects such as Language Arts, Health, Social Studies, Government, and Public Speaking. There's No Place Like My Own Home has been found helpful for Social-Emotional Learning to include (but is not limited to) kindness, gratitude, sufficient conflict resolution, positive self-image. The reader will also learn how to reduce aggressive behavior, demonstrate self-control, manage emotions, set positive goals, engage in positive relations, and learn to solve problems effectively. Lastly, the book has an anti-bullying message.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Florenza is an author, publisher, narrative coach, speaker, radio talk show host, Master Storyteller, wife, and mother. Florenza and her husband, CSM (Ret US Army) Trefus Lee, have been married for nearly 38 years and reside in Hampton, Virginia. Their daughters, Jessica and Missy, call Las Vegas, Nevada home.
Published titles by Florenza are:
Adventurous Olivia's Alphabet Quest
Amiri's Birthday Wish
Barry Bear's Very Best, Learning to Say No to Negative Influences
If...The Story of Faith Walker
O'Kapi
There's No Place Like My Own Home
The Tail of Max the Mindless Dog, A Children's Book on Mindfulness
Welcome Home Daddy, Love, Lexi
When Life Gives Us Wind
Children's Books coming soon are:
Acornsville, Land of the Secret Seed Keepers
Adventurous Olivia's Numerical Quest
Micah and Malik's Super Awesome Excellent Adventure
Oh, My Goodness, Look at this Big Mess
Two Bees in a Hive
Young Reader Chapter Books coming soon are:
Hoku to the Rescue
Two-Thirds is a Whole
For more information regarding Florenza's books, or to contact her to speak at your school or event,
please visit www.florenza.org.
