Many dream of growing up and writing a novel or a storybook, but rarely does it become a reality. For graduate student Emily Owens, writing children’s stories has become a way of expanding her calling as a school teacher. Owens recently published her third book, “Jazzy Frog John.”
“I started writing a long time ago — maybe fifth or sixth grade,” Owens said. “Not really full books, but poetry. It had the same kind of rhyming pattern that is in the books I write. As I fell in love with teaching, writing became almost a way to enhance my teaching.”
Owens has written all of her books as gifts for her closest friends. “Jazzy Frog John” was written as a gift for junior John Frizzell. Owens said the book reads in a rhythmic way that brings John’s singing to life when read aloud.
“He inspired the main character which is a frog named John,” Owens said. “I feel bad because the character is not completely like him because the character is a little self-centered … John (Frizzell) isn’t a spotlight stealer, but he is an awesome singer and he’s a music sharer.”
“Jazzy Frog John” is the story of a frog who lives in a swamp and has a knack for being able to woo animal crowds with his melodious voice, but when an otter comes to the swamp carrying a fiddle, the frog folds his arms in anger.
“When the otter starts to play along on his fiddle, Jazzy Frog John gets super territorial about it,” Owens said. “He stops singing and he crosses his arms and he says, ‘What do you think you are doing?’ The otter backs off a little… but leaves Jazzy Frog John with the advice that music is better when it’s shared.”
Owens said that eventually, the animals in the swamp begin to pipe up and offer their musical talents to Jazzy Frog John, and they all join together to play after the frog apologizes to them for being self-centered.
“The message is written into the words,” Owens said. “It’s a really fun story and it’s a quick read; very easy to get into.”
Owens sister, Marcy Yoder, illustrates all of her books and for “Jazzy Frog John,” the two got to write the story together.
“We are kind of kindred spirits when it comes to what we envision for a story,” Owens said. “For ‘Jazzy Frog John,’ I was at her house for the writing part, too. It was great to be able to say, ‘what kind of animal should come and play the fiddle?’ … It’s fun knowing she is going to illustrate it because I can say, ‘what kind of animal would you like to paint?’ and I’ll write it right in.”
Owens said she plans on writing more in the future and she cannot wait to continue her creativity. Her books can be purchased online at www.amazon.com.
