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Snail & Butterfly – Talking With Children About Fear & Friendships

Download 10 Question Infographic

The Power of Children’s Books

Parents play the most important role in a child’s cognitive and emotional growth. Among the tools available, an inspiring children’s book about overcoming fear and building friendships can be a magic one, nurturing their ability to navigate life’s challenges while helping them understand the value of relationships.

A Tale for Kids Ages 4-7

In The Snail And The Butterfly, an inspirational picture book for kids ages 4-7′, where a tiny snail dreams of flying and, with the support of an aging butterfly, turns this aspiration into reality. The story presents us with numerous life lessons such as dealing with fear, nurturing friendships, and pursuing dreams, embedded in a context young children can understand and appreciate.

Talking with children about fear & friendships is easy with the Snail & Butterfly Picture Book by Dougie Coop

Talking with Children About Fear

Reading with your children is a great first step. Picture books help improve your child’s brain development as a language skills accelerator, cognitive development dynamo, emotional intelligence builder, and more. Talking with children about fear and friendships and about what they are seeing and hearing magnifies those benefits and strengthens your relationship by establishing a foundation for a lifetime of conversations. Questions like, “Why did the snail keep trying to climb up the mushroom every day?” and “What did the butterfly tell the snail about her own life?” can be conversation starters. They illuminate the themes of determination and friendship in the tale, and allow children to draw parallels with their own experiences. Here are a few more questions you can ask:

    • “Why do you think the snail was afraid?”
    • “What do you think the butterfly learned from the snail?”
    • “What does ‘courage’ mean to you, like the snail’s courage in the story?”

Dealing with Fear and Forming Friendships

As this enchanting tale progresses, the snail, confronting and persevering through his fear, builds trust with the butterfly. Talking with children about fear & friendships with queries such as, “Why do you think the snail really wanted to fly?” or “How did the butterfly help the snail?” enables children to comprehend the importance of dealing with fear, the value of relationships, and the trust necessary to rely on others. This ‘kids book about friendship’ not only enhances their comprehension but also cultivates empathy and resilience. A few more thoughtful questions could include:

    • “Why was it important for the snail to believe in himself?”
    • “What did the butterfly teach the snail about dreams and goals?”
    • “Why do you think the butterfly said that ‘the rest is determined by your sight’?”

Applying Lessons to Real Life

Finally, discussing the snail’s achievement and applying these lessons to your child’s own life experiences can significantly boost their self-confidence. Remember, every question you ask serves as insight into your child’s thought process and emotional state, helping you strengthen your bond and fuel their confidence. More engaging questions could be:

    • “Have you ever been scared to try something new, like the snail?”
    • “Can you think of a time when you helped a friend, like the butterfly helped the snail?”
    • “What is a big goal you have, like the snail’s goal to fly?”

Inspiring Young Minds

With this magical tale of a snail and butterfly, let’s inspire our young ones to face their fears, cherish their friendships, and pursue their dreams with conviction. To assist with talking with children about fear and friendships and building these conversations, download our 10 Story Questions Infographic in PNG or PDF format. Happy reading!

New Children’s Book from Author Doug Cooper Available to Order

Snail & Butterfly by Doug Cooper & CJ the Kid

New Children’s Book from Doug Cooper aka Dougie Coop

The latest literary project from Doug Cooper, The Snail & The Butterfly, is a children’s  book in the juvenile fiction/animals and bug & spider books genres that emphasizes the importance of persevering through fear and the one-on-one connections we form throughout our lives in achieving our dreams. To differentiate his children’s books from his adult fiction, Doug is publishing The Snail & The Butterfly under the name of Dougie Coop, “a softer, gentler version”, as he describes, of the adventurous, poignant writer of literary thrillers that he is known by readers worldwide. With a thirty-year journey from ideation to publication, this story from Doug Cooper is making an exciting premiere in children’s literature. The new book is available for ordering wherever books are sold or use the following links to order from your favorite online retailer.

Order Info

Pre-Order The Snail & The Butterfly at IndieBound
Pre-Order The Snail & The Butterfly by Dougie Coop at Powell's Books
Pre-Order The Snail & The Butterfly at BAM
Pre-Order The Snail & The Butterfly by Dougie Coop at Barnes & Noble
Preorder The Snail & The Butterfly at Amazon UK
Preorder The Snail & The Butterfly at WH Smith
Buy The Snail & The Butterfly from Booktopia

Doug’s creative process for this book was a collaborative and iterative journey. He teamed up with the talented Australian artist CJ the Kid, who provided whimsical and playful illustrations that perfectly complement the story. Their collaboration spanned several years and multiple continents and has created the heartfelt book that is The Snail & The Butterfly.

Order your copy from your local book store by showing the following info or using the order links above.

Doug Cooper Children's Book in Juvenile Fiction/Animals

AVAILABLE IN HARDCOVER JUVENILE FICTION/ANIMALS

9781644283653 | US $16.00 | 10 x 10 in. | 42 pp.

RARE BIRD BOOKS

DISTRIBUTED WOLRDWIDE BY PUBLISHERS GROUP WEST RAREBIRDLIT.COM

Publicity, Marketing, and Bulk Sales: Alexandra Watts | alexandra@rarebirdlit.com | 561.603.9548

6044 NORTH FIGUEROA ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90042

Download Publicity, Marketing, & Sales Information Sheet

Doug Cooper & Rare Bird Books

The Snail & The Butterfly is the latest book by Doug Cooper published by Rare Bird Books, adding to their storied history of collaboration. From gripping psychological thrillers to this new venture in children’s literature, Rare Bird is delighted and honored to announce this forthcoming publication from Doug Cooper. With The Snail in the Butterfly, Doug Cooper and Rare Bird want to transport young readers on an enchanting adventure and nurture a love for books in all forms. 

 Doug Cooper is a seasoned author with a diverse writing portfolio. With a wealth of publishing experience, he has honed his craft, delivering captivating and introspective narratives in different voices and mediums. The Snail & The Butterfly, a delightful creation by Doug Cooper, offers a unique and engaging story that transcends age barriers.Enhanced by CJ the Kid’s winsome illustrations, this book sparks meaningful discussions on personal development,human connections, and the transformative power of embracing life’s obstacles. Its universal themes resonate with readers, inviting them to explore profound ideas and find inspiration within its pages.

Author Doug Cooper Releases Children's Book in Juvenile Fiction/Animals

Artist CJ the Kid

CJ the Kid is the talented artist and illustrator behind the captivating visuals of The Snail & The Butterfly. CJ’s artistic journey started in childhood, and in 2011, he decided to explore drawing and painting more deeply while living and performing as a dancer in Las Vegas where he met Doug Cooper while he was working on his second novel The Investment Club set in downtown Las Vegas.

Artist CJ the Kid Illustrator for Doug Cooper Children's Book in Juvenile Fiction/Animals

Based in Sydney, CJ’s art is emotionally charged, reflecting his life experiences. The snail, butterfly, and mushroom characters featured in the book have been recurring figures in his work over the years from doodling to wall art to paintings. When Doug Cooper approached him with the idea for the children’s book, CJ saw the potential and agreed to collaborate on the project.

Despite the distance and time difference after they both returned to their native homes, CJ and Dougie Coop found their rhythm, exchanging imaginative ideas. To CJ, the snail and butterfly represent pure imagination, freedom, and playfulness.

With CJ the Kid’s talent and Dougie Coop’s storytelling, The Snail & The Butterfly is a magical collaboration that sparks the imagination and resonates with readers of all ages.

The Snail And The Butterfly is available to order wherever books are sold and scheduled for release by Author Doug Cooper and Rare Bird Books on August 9, 2023. Visit the Snail & Butterfly Shop for stickers, T-Shirts, hats, and other fun merchandise.

 

New Season of Store Next Door Podcast Now Available

Store Next Door Season 2 Ep 1

Doug Cooper kicks off season 2 of the Store Next Door Podcast with Tyson Cornell from North Figueroa Bookshop and Emilia Rosa, author of Finding CristinaListen to the audio on your favorite podcast platform or visit the Store Next Door website for more info.

On the podcast, Doug talks to to owners, managers, and employees of some of the coolest book stores around and some of your favorite and soon-to-be-favorite authors about their latest releases and other book industry professionals about book topics and trends. Subscribe to the Store Next Door podcast on your favorite streaming platform or by clicking on the images below.

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Tyson Cornell is an acclaimed musician and producer, founder of Rare Bird Lit and Books, and currently responsible for publishing, acquisitions, and general business operations. Rare Bird is also a managing partner of North Figueroa Bookshop, a general interest bookstore in the heart of the historic Highland Park neighborhood of Northeast Los Angeles, a joint venture with Unnamed Press and with the collaborative support of founding publisher sponsors, Grove Atlantic and MCD Books.

North Figueroa Bookshop (North Fig) is in the heart of the historic Highland Park neighborhood of Northeast Los Angeles. As mentioned above, the store is a joint venture between Rare Bird and Unnamed Press, two Los Angeles–based independent publishers that have shared book fair booths and been close collaborators on projects for a number of years now (the first of which, Shadows of Love, Shadows of Loneliness, a landmark two-volume retrospective by photography, art, and printmaking by National Book Award–winning author William T. Vollmann, is scheduled for release in 2023). 

Tyson Cornell from North Figueroa Bookshop & Rare Bird Books
North Figueroa Bookshop Window in NE Los Angeles Highland Park Neighborhood
Emilia Rosa Author of Finding Cristina
Finding Cristina by Emilia Rosa

Emilia Rosa is the author of Finding Cristina & the sequel Finding Cristina A New Life. Emilia was raised in Rio and in the south of Brazil and has lived in Florida and now resides in Ohio. In addition to English, she is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Italian. To learn more about Emilia and her writings, follow her on Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, or Instagram.

In Finding Cristina, after her father’s death, young Cristina is left with a large house in one of the most beautiful places in the world—Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. But his illness left large debts that must be paid. To make matters worse, her mother’s health starts to decline. With the support of a maid that is more a family member, Cristina, an accomplish pianist, finds work and keeps the creditors at bay. She is undaunted by adversity and faces the mounting problems with resolution and good heart.

Love is the last thing in her mind, but destiny will bring a stranger into her path who will unveil a secret from her past. His love will change her life forever. But before this denouement, they must recon with two men: one would do anything to keep her to himself; the other will stop at nothing to keep the secret.

Doug Cooper In Conversation With Loren Stephens

Doug Cooper was on Rare Bird Radio in conversation with Loren Stephens on Wednesday, September 8. The recorded video is available on available on Crowdcast and YouTube or watch below.

Loren Stephens is a widely published essayist and fiction and nonfiction storyteller. Her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, MacGuffin, the Jewish Women’s Literary Annual, The Forge Literary Magazine, Crack the Spine, Lunch Ticket’s Amuse Bouche series, The Write Launch, The Summerset Review, The Montreal Review, and Tablet travel magazine, to name a few. The book she co-wrote with Cliff Simon, Paris Nights: My Year at the Moulin Rouge, was deemed one of the best titles from an independent press by Kirkus Book Reviews. 

A two-time nominee of the Pushcart Prize, Loren is president and founder of the ghostwriting companies, Write Wisdom and Bright Star Memoirs. Prior to establishing her company, Loren was a documentary filmmaker. 

Among her credits are Legacy of the Hollywood Blacklist with on camera narration by Burt Lancaster, produced for PBS and nominated for an Emmy Award; Sojourner Truth: Ain’t I A Woman? produced for Coronet Films and recipient of a Golden Apple from the National Education Association; and Los Pastores: The Shepherd’s Play produced for the Latino Consortium of PBS and recipient of a Cine Gold Eagle and nominated for an Imagen Award. She is a member of the Regional Board of the Anti-Defamation League; a member of its Deborah Awards Committee for Outstanding Women; and a member of Greenlight Women, an organization of women in the entertainment industry who serve as mentors. 

All Sorrows Can Be Borne by [Loren Stephens]

Inspired by true events, All Sorrows Can Be Borne is the story of Noriko Ito, a Japanese woman faced with unimaginable circumstances that force her to give up her son to save her husband. Set in Hiroshima, Osaka, and the badlands of eastern Montana and spanning the start of World War II to 1982, this breathtaking novel is told primarily in the voice of Noriko, a feisty aspiring actress who fails her audition to enter the Takarazuka Theater Academy. Instead, she takes the “part” of a waitress at a European-style tearoom in Osaka where she meets the mysterious and handsome manager, Ichiro Uchida. They fall in love over music and marry. Soon after Noriko becomes pregnant during their seaside honeymoon, Ichiro is diagnosed with tuberculosis destroying their dreams.

Hiroshima, 1945.
Noriko gives birth to a healthy baby boy, but to give the child a better life, Ichiro convinces her to give the toddler to his older sister and her Japanese-American husband, who live in Montana. Noriko holds on to the belief that this inconceivable sacrifice will lead to her husband’s recovery. What happens next is unexpected and shocking and will affect Noriko for the rest of her life.

Eighteen years later, her son enlists in the U.S. Navy and is sent to Japan. Finally, he is set to meet his birth mother, but their reunion cracks open the pain and suffering Noriko has endured.

With depth and tenderness, All Sorrows Can Be Borne is a harrowing and beautifully written novel that explores how families are shaped by political and economic circumstances, tremendous loss and ultimately forgiveness.

To learn more about Loren and her writings, visit her website or follow her on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram.

The Richard Wilmore Show

Doug was a guest on The Richard Wilmore Show, a Talk/Variety Show created to shine the spotlight on amazing musicians, talented actors, brilliant authors, hilarious comedians and the most creative people in entertainment. 

The Richard Wilmore Show (TRWS) is a weekly live talk/variety show currently filmed in San Antonio, Texas. TRWS is the go-to destination for entertainers to showcase their talents, talk about life and upcoming projects. Tune in to meet someone special that we think you need to know!

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TRWS began filming in 2016 from a home studio built just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. After a move to Texas, the show began filming in front of a live studio audience at Bexar Stage and Candlelight Coffee House. Season 4 kicked off September 14, 2020 with the 100th episode but was entirely virtual for pandemic precautions. Season 4 has featured guests from coast to coast. The season finale is June 7, 2021.

Season 5 launches on the show’s five year anniversary, August 29, 2021. The new season will reach a wider audience with the addition of media partners ArtScene SA and KP Media TV with distribution to Apple TV, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, ITunes, Google Podcasts, and more.

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To learn more about Richard and his show, visit his website or follow him on FacebookInstagramTwitter, and Subscribe on YouTube.

ALA Midwinter Meeting 2021 Videocast: Christopher Zyda with Doug Cooper

Christopher Zyda, author of The Storm: One Voice from the AIDS Generation (Rare Bird; 2020) in conversation with Doug Cooper, author of Outside In, The Investment Club, and Focus Lost (Rare Bird), from the virtual ALA (American Library Association) Midwinter Meeting 2021.

Christopher Zyda is the author of the The Storm: One Voice from the AIDS Generation. In this beautiful and gripping story, Chris confronts the long-buried and painful memories of his harrowing fifteen-year journey during the early years of the AIDS crisis in Los Angeles.

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It all begins in early 1984, when Chris, a twenty-one year old UCLA English Literature major, risks ostracism when he comes out of the closet to his fraternity brothers just as the AIDS pandemic is beginning to explode in gay communities across the United States. Soon afterward, Chris meets and falls in love with Stephen, a graduate of Yale University and Law School, and the two of them build a life together as their friends start to fall sick and die from the spreading storm of AIDS.

Stephen begins showing symptoms of AIDS in early 1986, and Chris faces a difficult choice as he is certain that he, too, eventually will be stricken by the disease. He abandons his writing career and attends the UCLA business school so that he can earn enough money to pay for healthcare during Stephen’s illness.

The Storm is filled with heart, optimism, and love, interspersed with Los Angeles history, gay and lesbian history, AIDS history, and the backdrop of the 1980s and 1990s. It is an unflinching and, at times, raw memoir of perseverance, integrity, forgiveness, the power of love, spiritual growth, Carpe Diem, dreams, and, most of all: survival and ultimate triumph.

To learn more about Chris, visit his website or follow him on Twitter

Doug On The More Than Corporate Podcast

Doug was on The More Than Corporate podcast to chat with Amber Fuhriman. Learn what it means to put your heart and soul into a book. Doug shares the benefits of world travel. Learn how to better understand the things that hold us back from being the best we can be. Click below to listen to the podcast.

Doug Cooper with Amber Fuhriman

Amber is an attorney practicing immigration and criminal defense in Las Vegas, Nevada and the founder and host of the More Than Corporate Podcast. When she was growing up, she KNEW she was going to be successful. She just didn’t KNOW she had to decide what that meant for her. So, she pushed forward following the only idea of success she had ever known…. a college education and a good job. She has had a very blessed life, but it hasn’t been all sunshine and roses. She was convinced when she got a “good job” based upon hard work and college education that all her problems would disappear! She actually remembers saying to her grandma somewhere around 2008 that one day she was going to make $100,000 in a year and all her problems would be gone…. Yup… Amber admits she knows how ridiculous that sounds now.

New episodes of the More Than Corporate podcast post weekly. Visit the Guest Area to connect with her to be a guest on the show or join the More Than Corporate Community on Facebook to meet others interested in finding fulfillment, defining success, and living your best life.

Focus Lost is Doug’s third book and will be released on April 16, 2019 by Rare Bird Books. Visit the Buzz section to stay updated on the news and events related to release or connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Author Talk at Huron Library

Doug Cooper Author Talk – Huron Library – Dec 10, 7p

Come hear Doug give a talk on “Living What You Write to Research Fiction” at the Huron Library on Tuesday, December 10 at 7 pm. Doug will provide insight on questions such as, “Where Do Authors Ideas Come From?” and “How Much of What Authors Write About Is True?” and many more relating to his three novels Focus LostThe Investment Club, and Outside In.

Register on the Huron Library website or respond to Facebook Event to reserve your spot. After the talk, Doug will be signing and selling copies of all three of his books.

This event is free to the public and part of the Huron Library Speaker Series.

Focus Lost:

The line between passion and obsession runs through us all.

Levi Combs never planned to rocket to stardom.

Eva Florez knew he would the moment she saw him.

Gabe Adams didn’t want anything to do with celebrities.

But after Gabe’s sister sells his photos of Levi with a young starlet to a tabloid website, their lives become intertwined forever, bound by rage and retribution.

Blending the nuance and insight of literary fiction with the big-screen magic of a Hollywood thriller, Focus Lost whisks readers into a world of temptation, indulgence, and revenge, daring them to take a bite of the forbidden fruit.

Focus Lost Amazon eBook Sale

Focus Lost eBook Sale at Amazon for $2.99 – November 21

Buy an eBook version of Focus Lost from Amazon for $2.99 all day on November 21. That’s right, for a limited time, Focus Lost will be reduced over 70% to only $2.99. It’s such an amazing offer, you should really buy two!

Start your holiday shopping early and save money in this Pre-Black Friday sale. Traveling for Thanksgiving? Download a copy to your phone, tablet, or laptop and mitigate the travel stress with this entertaining read described as “Fast paced thriller exploring intention/manipulation, perception/reality, approximation/truth”.

Focus Lost:

The line between passion and obsession runs through us all.

Levi Combs never planned to rocket to stardom.

Eva Florez knew he would the moment she saw him.

Gabe Adams didn’t want anything to do with celebrities.

But after Gabe’s sister sells his photos of Levi with a young starlet to a tabloid website, their lives become intertwined forever, bound by rage and retribution.
Blending the nuance and insight of literary fiction with the big-screen magic of a Hollywood thriller, Focus Lost whisks readers into a world of temptation, indulgence, and revenge, daring them to take a bite of the forbidden fruit.

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