About the Author

Writing children's books has always been a dream of mine.  I have spent the last 21 years working with toddlers and preschoolers as a teacher, an early intervention specialist with children with special needs, and as a preschool director. I absolutely adore this age group and know deep down that kids learn the best through imagination and play. This Sammy series started  with "Soothing Sammy" - my first book (as a brand new author) and Kona's first star spotlight.

"Soothing Sammy" came to me one day while I was watching a parent struggle during their child's tantrum in the grocery store. This mom was cringing, trying to get through her shopping trip as fast as she could with a two year old screaming in the front of the basket. My heart just broke for her. I wanted to create something for kids, to teach them how to manage their feelings in a way that they would understand. I didn't want "just another parent course." I wanted kids to take ownership of their feelings and learn to express them in appropriate ways. As a result, “Soothing Sammy” was born!

After writing "Soothing Sammy," I was addicted! I found out that I loved writing children’s books and I wanted to write more! But what should I write about?

During our daily fetch game with Kona, I thought, "what if Sammy played fetch with balls that had the letters on it?" After all, learning the alphabet is a core skill for young children. That Kona girl sure does have great ideas ;) So the following year, I released “Sammy Chases the Alphabet!" I included some playful games to make teaching letters simple and fun ("The Playful Alphabet").

It was so fun watching my illustrator bring my story to life with the amazing illustrations (seriously... she is so talented.) I knew I wasn't finished writing stories, but I didn't know what to write about next. Unfortunately, that same year, an unnerving event took place. Two girls, ages 5 and 7, wandered away from their home in a dense wooded area. They were lost for 44 hours! It was devastating to watch the Search and Rescue volunteers search the woods for two days.

Magically, they were found alive! They were tired but okay. Come to find out, their parents had taught them wilderness survival skills through a local program, and it paid off. They wanted to be prepared since they lived in a wooded area. After I witnessed the adventure of these two young girls, I wanted to teach all preschoolers how to stay safe if they were ever lost. I partnered with our local Search and Rescue Volunteer team to create “The Search for Sammy: A Lost and Found Adventure.” This story talks about Sammy getting lost while he played his favorite fetch game, and explains exactly what he did to stay safe. There are some playful games in the back of the book that helps kids remember what to do to stay safe. 50% of all the profits from this book goes to our local Search and Rescue Team (did you know they are all volunteers? Amazing!).

So what should this next book be about? I have spent the last 14 years working with infants, toddlers and preschoolers with developmental delays. These adorable children have a very special place in my heart. I was lucky enough to work in an inclusion preschool class for a period of time, and I was always so amazed at how young children help each other out, no questions asked.

I soon released “Sammy Goes to Preschool,” a lesson on inclusion. This story talks about how although everyone is different, we all have unique strengths and we can still all be friends! Not only is this story a peek into a typical preschool day, but it dives deeper into building friendships with everyone.

When I was talking to parents and teachers of preschoolers, I asked them what skill they wish their children knew how to do. They said "taking turns" or "sharing." Understanding how to share space and toys with others is one of the hardest skills that young children learn, but as a preschool teacher, I created an awesome visual called  "my turn" cards. That's when I knew my next Sammy book would teach child how to take turns in an age appropriate way! So a year later, I released the book "Sammy Learns to Share: A Lesson in Turn Taking." Not only is this story loads of fun as we are introduced to Sammy's friend Duke, it encourages imagination, patience and yes... it teaches how to use "my turn" cards. 

At this point I thought I was done creating books, but there was one more skill that I wanted to include. Most of the books that I have read teach children how to count to 10, but for Kindergarten readiness, a lot of schools like students to be able to count to 20. I live in an area where there are many immersion schools (English/Spanish, Spanish/French) so I decided to write a story that taught children how to count from 1-20 in English, Spanish and French! And what better way to do this than joining Sammy on one of his daily walks, encouraging children to stop and take observe their surroundings when they are out and about, living in the moment! A few months later, "Sammy's Counting Adventure" was published.

And there you have it. The current "Sammy the Golden Dog" series. I hope you enjoy these books as much as I have enjoyed writing them.

Jeana Kinne

Author of "Sammy the Golden Dog"

More About Me:

I have always been in awe of young children. Everything they experience, no matter if it is a worm found in the garden or a flower blossoming in the spring grass, they are instantly overwhelmed with curiosity. When spending time with toddlers and preschoolers, I am reminded how important it means to live in the moment. Children engage with the world in a magical way, sharing their excitement with everyone around them. As soon I set foot in the toddler classroom on my college campus, I knew I wanted my career to include working with preschoolers.

While earning my Masters degree in Early Childhood Education, I became fascinated learning about brain development and the maturity that happens within the first five years of a child's life. Infants and toddlers grow and change so quickly, becoming independent thinkers and problem solvers within, what feels like, a matter of months! A child is always learning (some say they soak up everything like a sponge), while parents support their development through everyday activities.

As a Preschool Director and Preschool Consultation Specialist I was able to create opportunities for children to learn by teaching parents and preschool staff a variety of techniques to embed academics within children's play. As a Parenting Consultant, I helped parents and teachers determine causes of their child's behavior, recommending age-appropriate solutions through behavior training and support. Social skill development is often overlooked, but is key to a successful preschool experience and preparation for Kindergarten. 

A few years later, I was offered the opportunity to work as a Early Childhood Developmental Specialist with infants and toddlers with special needs. This career allowed me to join all three of my passions together; helping children, supporting parents and educating professionals. Although I taught children by providing a variety of play and movement activities, it quickly became clear that parental involvement in these therapy sessions (and carryover into daily living) was key to their child’s success.

My work experience has taught me that no matter if a child is typically developing, or has some developmental delays, a parent’s engagement in their child's daily lives directly correlates with their child’s academic and social progress. I wanted to find a way to help all children and families play, learn and grow! Hence, JDEducational was born!

Learning through play eliminates the stress of parenting, is easy to do and strengthens every parents bond with their child. I  wanted to find a way to help all families teach their children necessary academic and social skills in a way that meets every child's unique learning style (in a way that busy families could complete and on a budget). 

I hope that by completing the JDEducational Curriculum and reading our blog posts, parents will feel empowered to create, explore, teach and experience their child's love for learning. The JDEducational curriculum includes fun and age-appropriate activities which support children's developmental milestones, preparing them for Kindergarten and beyond. 

Thank you for your interest in the JDEducational Curriculum. I would love to answer any questions that you may have!

Sincerely,

Jeana

A Little Extra - In Case You're Interested:

* I absolutely love animals. I have had a variety of animals as pets but now am a proud puppy mommy to my Golden Retriever "Kona". One day I hope to have a place large enough to have a pet pig!

* During my free time you can find me anywhere outdoors! I love to kayak, swim, hike and be in nature.

* Travel is our second love. My husband and I enjoy cruising, exploring new cultures and foods and camping!

* Playing Guitar and Country Music is a hobby of mine! I have line danced for years!!

* Mexican food and ice cream are my weakness....!

* I live in Northern California, and LOVE the sun! I can't imagine living in the snow for more than one week!

_______________________________________________________________________