Douglas Paul

In these pages, Douglas Paul recounts stories from his childhood and early adulthood in Kenosha, Wisconsin, then goes on to share a couple of incidents from college and the wandering years that followed. Paul eventually landed in Iowa City, Iowa, where he got married, attended graduate school, and ran a successful educational publishing company. In 2004, Paul sold the publishing business and started volunteering his time to the Harvest Preserve-100 acres of rolling hills, woods, and prairie on the edge of Iowa City. The Harvest Preserve, visited by thousands of people annually, is home to numerous sculptures, walking trails, and an ancient stone circle (www.harvestpreserve.org). Douglas Paul has been a member of the Self-Realization Fellowship Church since 1975. He has been together with his wife in Iowa City since early 1977. Together they raised two daughters and are now blessed with three grandchildren. The stories in this book run range from humorous to serious. They skip over time quite naturally, leaving the reader wondering whether each incident is true. As Paul says, "Memory runs through a cloudy filter that provides a less-than-perfect glimpse of reality." With that in mind, the stories are as true as memory allows.

There is much to find and ponder here. Something, I think, for every reader: for anyone who has ever considered themselves to be just one small dot on a vast planet filled with people who may look different, but probably feel much the same, for anyone who has felt alone and unheard, for anyone who has faced challenges in life and wondered at the unknown outcome-and for anyone who chooses to be a positive light in this dark world and maybe needs a little boost. I'm honored to know this man and be a very small part of his remarkable journey. - Robyn Corum

This is a book of short and memorable poems for children ages 2 to 10 years old. It's designed in an ABC format. Parents and grandparents will also enjoy the lovable creatures presented in this book. It includes discussion questions at the back to spark learning opportunities for you to share with your children as they find deeper meanings in the poems each time they're read. ""This book was the perfect introduction to limerick poetry for my students. Even after we examined the poems together, they reached for this book during independent reading and took inspiration from the poems when they finally created their own. I would recommend this book for any elementary classroom!"" -Christy Rucker