How an old passion project sparked a family rewrite, a book series, and a mission-driven publishing company.
Six years ago, I wrote a children’s book called ABCs of Kindness.
It was a passion project born from a very real season of life. My kids loved being read to. My oldest was just beginning his early reading journey. And the message of the book—kindness as a way of being, not a rule to follow—mirrored the heart of the business we were building at the time: House of Playful Soul (HOPS).
I wanted to create something intentional. Something meaningful. Something that reflected the same values we were trying to live and model as a family.
When the Book Was First Written
At the time, I was pregnant with my third child and in the thick of opening HOPS. What I didn’t fully recognize then was just how constrained I already was—creatively, emotionally, and mentally.
The result was a book I loved in concept, but not in execution.
I was learning as I went. I worked with an illustrator I didn’t feel confident critiquing. And while the book technically existed, it never really entered the world. I released it quietly, just for myself. I didn’t promote it. I didn’t talk about it. I didn’t invite anyone into it.
Then life moved forward.
The book was tucked away.
Years passed.
And the world—and our family—changed.
The Rediscovery That Changed Everything
Years later, during a season of transition for our family, we rediscovered the book.
Reading it again—this time through my kids’ eyes—felt completely different.
They didn’t see the imperfections I had fixated on. They didn’t see the gap between what I had imagined and what I had created.
They saw something with my name on it.
They saw themselves in the pages.
They didn’t see the imperfections I saw.
They saw something with my name on it.
They saw themselves.
They recognized acts of kindness we had practiced as a family—and were curious about the ones they were learning of for the first time. We read the book again and again over the next few weeks. Each child had a favorite letter. They especially loved their own name letters, but there were others they kept asking to revisit.
And then came the question I had been avoiding.
“Mommy, how many books have you sold?”
I didn’t know the exact number, but I knew it was low. I told them the truth—that I never really promoted the book because it hadn’t turned out the way I had imagined.
What came next changed everything.
“Then let’s redo it the way you want,” they said.
“Can we make it better?”
I had never considered rewriting or redesigning the book. But they were full of ideas. And suddenly, it felt obvious—if this book was going to come back, it should be rebuilt together.
So for the next month, we edited pages. We redesigned letters. We created characters. We imagined what else could live inside the book.
That rediscovery became the catalyst—not just for rewriting ABCs of Kindness, but for reimagining what it could become.
How ABCs of Kindness Sparked Alpha Academy
As we revisited the book, my kids didn’t just listen—they contributed.
They asked questions.
They shared opinions.
They helped rethink language, characters, and meaning.
That process led to something unexpected: the creation of Alpha Academy—a series designed to help kids grow kindness, confidence, and emotional awareness through storytelling.
What began as one forgotten book turned into a shared family project.
And from there, something even bigger took shape.
The Beginning of KidsGiving Press
ABCs of Kindness didn’t just inspire a rewrite—it inspired a mission.
As a family, we began asking deeper questions:
How can books move beyond the page?
How can kids see kindness modeled, not just mentioned?
How can storytelling connect to real-world giving?
Those questions led us to start KidsGiving Press—a family-founded children’s publishing company rooted in the belief that small hands can create big impact.
ABCs of Kindness became the foundation.
Not the first book released—but the book that made everything else possible.
Why This Book Matters Now
Six years ago, this book was an idea.
Today, it’s a response.
Kids are growing up in a world that feels heavier and louder. Parents are searching for ways to talk about emotions, empathy, and responsibility—without overwhelming their children or themselves.
ABCs of Kindness didn’t just inspire a rewrite—it inspired a mission.
ABCs of Kindness isn’t about being perfect or polite.
It’s about:
- noticing feelings
- practicing empathy
- understanding that kindness is something you do—again and again
And now, the book doesn’t stand alone. Every copy supports kindness beyond the page—through community initiatives and educator support shaped by the same values the book teaches.
The Book That Waited—And Then Opened the Door
Looking back, I understand why this book waited.
It wasn’t meant to be released six years ago.
It was meant to start something.
ABCs of Kindness is being re-released now—not just as a story, but as the beginning of a family-built movement grounded in kindness, courage, and community.
Sometimes the thing that waits the longest ends up leading the way.
It wasn’t meant to be released six years ago.
It was meant to start something
✨ ABCs of Kindness releases in March 2026
If this story resonates, we’d love for you to be part of what it sparked.
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