Books by Penelope Dyan

While it may be quite true that "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom." as Thomas Jefferson said; honesty must also be tempered with kindness, meaning that no one has to say everything they are thinking, especially if what a person is thinking is unkind, mean or cruel.Use this fun 'learn to read' book by the award winning author, attorney, and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, to begin your discussion about truth and kindness, and about what truth and kindness means to you.You can also practice your reading skills as you read this kid-sized book filled with word repetition, word recognition and rhyme. (Its extra large print is perfect for young eyes. ) And you can visit some familiar Penelope Dyan characters, who are once again eager to impart their knowledge to a kid like you! But most of all, have fun learning; because if learning isn't fun, a kid won't love to learn.When you are all done reading, you can go to Bellissimavideo's YouTube channel and watch the free music video that goes along with this book for even more learning fun!

This is another great little book meant just for kids, that parents will enjoy reading to them. It is meant to be simple ,and it is meant to teach. It is also meant to encourage love of reading, artistic accomplishment and just plain fun!This is a perfect book for the child who is begging you to learn to read, and a perfect book for the child who is refusing to read, because both will suddenly be reading if they follow this series. (It's sort of like magic!)This is the second book in Penelope Dyan's Penny Mouse Early Reader Series, and it is based upon tried and true materials Dyan created as a teacher years ago, tried and true techniques that worked!Penelope Dyan has been published in Kindergartner Magazine, Instructor Magazine and Humpty Dumpty Magazine and is a former K-12 teacher who brings her expertise straight to the pages of these books! She brings her love of children to every book she writes and truly believes that every child is special and unique, just like these little books! Dyan's 'Surfer Girl' is recognized by the Girls Voices In Literature Database,Miami University, Florida, and was the winner of Best Teen book at both the 2008 New York Book Festival and the 2008 Hollywood Book Festival!

The oldest dinosaurs known are from Argentina and Brazil and are about 230 million years old. The most primitive of these, Eoraptor, was a small meat-eating dinosaur. A lot of people think today's dinosaurs are birds; that is, that birds evolved from dinosaurs, but this book isn't about that. This is just a fun little story about Stegi, the dinosaur, who hatched from an egg as dinosaurs are known to do. And because we also know some dinosaurs were herbivorous, and other dinosaurs were carnivores, this is also a small tale about that. But not to get too serious, there is a party involved--and that brings us to the point of imagination. Penelope Dyan is all about imagination and inspiration---Her books are intended to increase in the gray matter brain of children, as to both of those things! And this is why this former early childhood educator, now attorney and writer, wrote this book, proving once again that books are a mind investment and that Bellissima loves kids!So while the kids are cramming their little brains with facts, they also need some fun. Because all good things (like your childhood) like the dinosaurs, do come to an end. And parents, like their children, need to keep the child inside of them alive and full of fun, inspiration and imagination!

This is book 4 of the 'Mikey And Me' extra large print early reading book series, written for little eyes that need help to see the words that comprise the dolch reading word list in a fun and new way. Kid sized books, with kid friendly illustrations and bright colors adorn the pages of this funny story all about Kourtney, Mikey and the spider.Penelope Dyan again uses her knack for poetry and love of children and has created books your child will want to read over and over again, reinforcing basic reading skills and reading vocabulary.Dyan is an award winning author and poet, and an attorney, who has been widely published in both fields. Her love of words and the beauty of something original is reflected in her books, and inspires the children who hold them in their little hands, to create something original of their own; and this is as Dyan intended it. Once again, we are reminded Bellissima loves kids!

It is said that necessity is the mother of invention, but was it necessity that caused man to take to the sky or was it curiosity and imagination? It is our contention it was the latter. This book is written in memory of the grandfather of John D. Weigand, Julius Petersen, a Danish immigrant who boarded a boat and became a seaman at the age of seventeen, knew Orville and Wilber Wright, and worked with Thomas Alva Edison at General Electric in Nela Park, Cleveland Ohio.It was the golden age of invention, but the truth is it all actually started much earlier in the renaissance with Leonardo da Vinci and others who had great imagination and artistic talents and who were the first 'can do' kind of guys.The question is, have we lost our ability to imagine and invent by making everyone tow the line and think inside of the box instead of out of it, and by discouraging our children, especially our boys, from pursuing the arts? Enjoy the wonderful photographs of John D. Weigand and the poetry of Penelope Dyan in this brand new approach to the 'For Boys Only' books published by Bellissima Publishing LLC.A Special thanks and recognition goes to the San Diego Air & Space Museum (and 'The da Vinci Experience') where a majority of these pictures were taken, and to the Red Bull Air Races of 2009 held in beautiful San Diego, California.

War is not a good thing, and you must choose your battles carefully. Luckily, our hero and his best friend, Bobby, experienced an intervention before their war got out of hand. Can you guess who it was that stopped their war?Find out what armies the boys gathered around them and what started the war. Do you think it was something important that started their war? Read this book and decide for yourself.War is a very big and scary concept, and this 'For Boys Only' book opens the door for discussion of this very serious concept. Penelope Dyan is an attorney, a writer and a former teacher who really understands and loves kids. Her book 'Surfer Girl' is recognized by the Girls Voices In Literature Database, and was the winner best teen book at both the 2008 New York Book Festival and the 2008 Hollywood Book Festival.Read the fun poetry and enjoy the illustrations of Penelope Dyan as you read this book and talk to your kids about not letting things ever get out of hand. Remember that boys will be boys, and that is precisely why Penelope Dyan has written this little book just for them. Be sure to read all the 'For Boys Only' books and don't settle for an imitation or a copy. 'For Boys Only' is a registered trademark of Bellissima Publishing, LLC. If you do not see the 'For Boys Only' Logo, then it is not a genuine Bellissima Book. Remember that all the world loves an original, and anyone can make or have a copy.

Do you have an alligator in your closet? And does it wear your favorite shoes? Or perhaps you have something in your closet besides just shoes that your alligator likes to wear? It is a good thing we all have mothers and fathers who take care of things like alligators in closets. So read this book, and find out what was really in the closet.The child in this book has a very big imagination, and sometimes things are not what they seem. An imagination is a very good thing to have as long as it doesn't begin to scare you. If you happen to see something strange in your closet (or perhaps under your bed) remember to ask yourself if your active imagination is working overtime. And read this book to find out what tricks our protagonist's imagination is playing on her.Penelope Dyan, author of 'Sufer Girl,' best teen book at the 2008 New York Book Festival and best teen book at the 2008 Hollywood Book Festival, a former teacher and attorney, really understands kids. She brings all her knowledge and love of children with her as she writes her books, and like all Bellissima Books, her books have a purpose.Have fun reading this family friendly story with its delightful poetry and fun illustrations, and remember to never forget that Bellissima loves kids. After all, our children are our future; and investing in our children is always ourbiggest joy and our most important obligation. And THAT is something very, very real.

Everyone is fabulous, and we all have good heads on our shoulders. Some people lose their heads like Marie Antoinette, but you can have freedom and lots of things without losing your head. Read about our heroine, Marie, and find out why she decided to keep her head.Written and illustrated by award winning poet, writer and artist, Penelope Dyan, take a small peek into history and smile and laugh and have some fun with "Fabulous Marie, a Girl With A Good Head On Her Shoulders." As usual, Dyan mixes education with point of interest to encourage conversation, because communication is what you want with children and between children. And again, Dyan focuses on the family connection with Marie's love of being tucked into bed.Find out what Marie makes for her mother and all about all her fabulous things, and why she does not want to be a princess or a queen like Marie Antoinette. Penelope Dyan is the author of 'Surfer Girl,' winner of best teen book at both the 2008 New York Book Festival and the 2008 Hollywood Book Festival, and recognized by the Girls' Voices In Literature Database, Miami University, Florida. Dyan is also a former educator who has been published in 'Instructor Magazine,' in 'The Kindergartner,' and in 'Humpty Dumpty Children's Magazine,' as well as in several other national publications.So enjoy reading all about our fabulous Marie, and most importantly, remember we are all simply fabulous, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

Everyone deserves to have their dreams come true, and there is really no reason why dreams can't come true. The trick is believing in yourself and believing in your dreams, each and every one of them. If you really believe in your dreams, and if you work hard and follow your heart, you can make them happen. You might have a big dream or a small dream. It doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that it is your dream, and you are the only one who really knows what your dreams are; and no one else other than you can make them come true.Bartholomew Bunny has to go looking for his dreams. His bunny mummy tells him to look into his heart. It seems everyone has some sort of advice for Bartholomew Bunny. Finally, Bartholomew Bunny figures out what he is supposed to do. Can you guess what that is?Penelope Dyan, author of 'Surfer Girl,' best teen book at the 2008 New York Book Festival and best teen book at the 2008 Hollywood Book Festival, a former teacher and attorney, really understands kids. She brings all her knowledge and love of children with her as she writes all her books, and like all Bellissima Books, her books have a message and a purpose.Life lessons, such as self esteem, are often overlooked in this busy world of ours, and this is why Penelope Dyan wrote this book. Sit down with your child today and read 'There's No Business Like Bartholomew Bunny's Business,' and discover why there really is no business like Bartholomew Bunny's business, and get the conversation going!

Are you a cat rescuer like our heroine, Vita? Or do you just love cats? It is always good to help a stray animal to either find their own home or to find them a new one, which may even be yours; but sometimes you need to be careful, and you need to make sure you are ready to take care of them.This book will help you get the conversation going and see if you are ready for a new cat or a kitten, and Bellissima Publishing, LLC encourages you to adopt a rescue cat, because that is a very good thing for you to do if you want a cat. Also, if you adopt a rescue cat, our herione Vita and other animal rescuers like her will have one less cat or kitten for which they need to find a home.Read about both the benefits and the drawbacks of having a cat or a kitten, and remember owning any pet is a very big responsibility.Written and illustrated by Penelope Dyan, award winning writer and poet, published in 'Instructor Magazine,' in 'Humpty Dumpty Magazine,' and in 'The Kindergartner, and winner of best teen book at both the 2008 New York Book Festival and the 2008 Hollywood Book festival for her book 'Surfer Girl,' you are certain to enjoy this book.Laugh and smile and delight as you read 'Vita McCafee McKay, Animal Rescuer.'

Are you a Tony Pickleloni? Or do you eat a balanced diet? Find out what happens to Tony Pickleloni when all he eats from morning until night is baloney between slices of bread. Too much of anything can be a bad thing, as we all know; and Tony Pickleloni finds this out the hard way.This is a "For Boys Only" book, but that doesn't mean girls can't read and enjoy this book too! This book is very funny, and it will make you laugh out loud.Written and illustrated by Penelope Dyan, author of 'Surfer Girl,' winner of best teen book at both the 2008 New York Book Festival and the 2008 Hollywood Book Festival, and recognized by the Girls' Voices In Literature Database, Miami University, Florida, this book is a must have addition to your other Dyan "For Boys Only" books. Penelope Dyan has also been published in 'Instructor Magazine,' in 'The Kindergartner,' and in 'Humpty Dumpty Magazine.' She is a former educator and an attorney who brings all her love of children with her into every book she writes and illustrates.

It is very important to share, and it is also very important to know when you should get rid of something, even if you love it, and especially when it could be used by someone less fortunate than you. However, sometime children don't see things the same way as adults, and they may want to hold on to everything, thinking that you are just trying to take something away from them. Read this book to your Frugal Frannie and explain that sometimes when we can't really use something anymore, someone else can; and there is no point in wasting things and not using them.Our Frugal Frannie did finally realize it was time to get rid of a few things, and the not so surprising result was a clean room. (After all, when your closet is full and your mother can't find you under a big mound of clothes, something really has to go.)This book is a great way to kick off room cleaning and have some fun at the same time, so Enjoy the illustrations and the poetry of Penelope Dyan with your child and get to work! Make your child a part of something greater than your child, and share with your child the gift and the joy of giving.A former K-12 teacher, published in 'The Kindergartner,' as well as in 'Instructor Magazine' and in 'Humpty Dumpty' children's magazine, and an award winning author, Penelope Dyan has put her expertise, love and knowledge of children to work in this delightful little book.Dyan is the author of 'Surfer Girl,' winner of best teen book at both the 2008 New York Book Festival and the 2008 Hollywood Book Festival, and recognized by Girls Voices In Literature Database, Miami University, Florida

Ted E. Bear has a terrible adventure, but like most terrible adventures one has, it was not of his own doing, It seems our little Teddy was the unwary victim of ' bearnapping.' However, in the end all turned out well, as everything came out okay in the wash.If you have a teddy bear you love dearly, then this book is a must read for you both. Sit down in a comfortable chair with your teddy and read the book to him, and then watch him very carefully so that he doesn't also have a most unfortunate experience just like Ted E. Bear had.This book was written and illustrated by Penelope Dyan, author of 'Surfer Girl,' the first book in a series about a teenage girl named Summer who surfs the waves of life as she surfs the ocean and searches for her legacy. 'Surfer Girl' was the winner of the best teenage book at both the 2008 New York Book Festival and the 2008 Hollywood Book Festival; and it is also recognized by the Girls Voices In Literature Database, Miami university, Florida

Life isn't a dream. It's a song. And the song we sing must always be our own. This means that the song we sing should be as unique as we are, as each of us are, or ever hope to be.No two people are the same. No one adventure is the same as another. Wherever you are, wherever you go, the only thing you really need to remember to do is to sing your own song.Cairns sits on the east coast of Far North Queensland. They say it's a big city, but it has a small town feel. There are restaurants along the waterfront, some fun shopping, and some very interesting creatures to see if you just keep your eyes open and really look around. This 'learn to read book written by award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, with colorful photography by John D. Weigand, is a book meant just for kids; because it sees what a kid would see on a walk about explore. This book is filled with word recognition, and word repetition and rhyme to help kids build reading skills. When kids are finished reading, they can watch the fun free music video that goes along with this book on the Bellissimavideo YouTube channel!

Everyone has a story, and your story is all about you and who you are and who you are meant to be. We are all very different from one another. We are all 'one of a kind,' and this is how we were meant to be. All that matters is being the best person you can be; and if you are going to do that, you simply have to be yourself, because you have to be who you are meant to be, and no one else!So have fun reading this 'learn to read' book by the award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, full of word recognition, word repetition and rhyme, and look for a few brand new words in this book that will build your reading and vocabulary skills. Think about what this book says and have a discussion about life and your place in the world with your parents and friends. Think about what it means to be a friend and celebrate all the differences among us, because no two people are exactly alike. (Even twins have differences.) Most of all, have fun learning to read, because if you don't have fun with learning, you won't love to learn! Then look for the free music video that goes with this book on the Bellissimavideo YouTube channel for even more learning fun!

Children are our future. And the dreams of our children will shape the world. This is a 'what if' book filled with some silly thoughts and some serious thoughts. The objective of this 'learn to read book' is to get kids thinking, as well as reading, and to start at the beginning of things, before a kid gets to the end of things and wonders about the why of things.Written by award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, and filled with word recognition, word repitition and rhyme (to buid reading skills) this book is also meant for fun; because if a kid doesn't have fun learning, a kid will not love to learn,The physical size of this book is perfec for carrying in a kid sized backpack. And it's extra large print is perfect for little eyes.There is also a free music video that kids can watch on the Bellissimavideo YouTube channel (that goes along with this book) for even more learning fun; because if a kid doesn't have fun learning, they won't love to learn!

Sometimes it's fun to just pretend you are a Viking for a day! And that is very easy to do when you are in Oslo, Norway; because you can see first hand how Vikings really used to live, and then you can imagine going back in time to live like a real Viking! In Oslo, there is a lot to see! From the modern day town to the wonderful museums, that aren't really like museums at all, but truly reflect (in life-size ) replicas and restorations of Viking boats and other Viking artifacts, to the Norsk Folkemuseum ( Norway's largest open air museum) to the Oslo Viking Ship Museum (and more) there is a lot of Viking excitement in the air.Written by award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, with photography by John D. Weigand, this 'learn to read' book shows you just a few of the things you can see and do in Oslo, Norway. The main emphasis is of this book is 'imagination,' and this is the main theme of several of the Dyan/Weigand books about Scandinavia, because this is a place where imagination, art and originality abound! So, practice your reading skills through word recognition, and word repetition and rhyme; and then to further enhance your imagination and to have even more learning fun, watch the free music video that goes with this book on the Bellissimavideo You-Tube channel.

There is one important word to which we should ALL pay careful attention, and that word is RESPECT! Use this book to practice reading skills and increase your reading vocabulary, and use the message in the book to open up a dialog about what it means to respect one another.Written by award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, this book is meant to tickle the funny bone as it teaches through the use of repetition, rhyme, and kid friendly illustrations kids can imitate and copy and use to make their very own books!Be sure to also Look for the Penelope Dyan 'RESPECT' video on the Bellissimavideo YouTube channel that goes along with this book and add to the learning experience.Most of all, have some fun as you learn, because unless you are having fun, you will never learn to love learning; and loving learning is the path to knowledge!

Do you walk on the sunny side of life? Because award winning author, attorney and former teacher certainly hopes you do! Where is the sunny side of the street? Is your life happy and sunny? And what do YOU think may be on the dark side of the street, if there even IS one?Practice your reading skills as you guess what words come next in the rhyme, and then think about what being on the sunny side of the street means to you! And then jot down some thoughts of your own about where your sunny side of the street may be and where it isn't.This book is once again filled with Penelope Dyan familiar characters that you can copy and draw yourself as you learn to read by associating the kid-friendly drawings with the words in this book. And to make the learning experience even more interesting, look for a fun free video on YouTube that you can find on the Bellissimavideo Channel that has the same name as this book; and then sing and dance as you learn! Learning is (after all) something about which we can all happily sing and dance!

For a wonderful day, there is nothing better than visiting Monet's home and garden at Giverny, France. See the gardens Monet sculpted so he could paint impressionist pictures of his beautiful garden, and imagine and try to see what he saw as he painted. Use this book as an introduction and a guide and fill it with your very own pictures, and postcards and notes. And do not forget your camera when you go to Giverny, France.When you look at this book, you can also use it to improve your reading skills, because this is another reason these Penelope Dyan/John D. Weigand books were created. It is written in rhyme, so that you can guess the words that are coming next. Each set of words, on the page opposite the beautiful photographs describes in poetic narrative what you are seeing on the opposite page, and this book is sized especially for little hands and kids' backpacks, so you can take it and compare what you see to the photographs in the book.Penelope Dyan is an award winning author, internationally honored, recognized poet, attorney, artist, vocalist and former teacher; and John D. Weigand is a former director of television engineering and professional photographer, proving once again that Bellissima loves kids!

You should always tell the truth and nothing but the truth, and you should never lie. Use this book to begin a discussion about what it means when you lie, and about how you will only hurt ourself in the end if you tell lies, because in the end no one will end up believing anything that you have to say. Just let truth shine!You see, the truth is a very important thing!This learn to read book, written and illustrated by Penelope Dyan is not only meant to get a kid thinking about right and wrong, it can be used to practice reading skills through the use of word repetition, word recognition and rhyme. Visit some of Penelope Dyan's fun and familiar characters in this kid-sized book with its extra large print that is perfect for young eyes. And then when you are all finished reading, go to the Bellissimavideo YouTube channel and watch the free music video that goes along with this book. But most of all, have fun learning, because if a kid doesn't have fun learning, a kid won't love to learn!

Do you have a monster under your bed? Or is the monster only on your head? And does it make any difference where a monster resides as long as there is a monster? And if there is a monster, then what can you learn from that monster about life and how to live it?Explore these questions and more as you read yet another fun filled book written and illustrated by Penelope Dyan that contains her whimsical poetry along with her kid friendly illustrations that encourage a child to write and draw and to ,make books of their own. And why not? Children have the best imaginations of us all! We just have to bring out of them what is bottled up in their heads.No one knows this to be true better than attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, and this book is based on her tried and true classroom concepts and techniques used in the classroom on the younger crown.Dyan is Internationally known and recognized for her poetry, and is an award winning author. She is original and one of a kind, and this is what she encourages your children to be. . . original and one of a kind. Bellissima believes books are a mind investment and that everyone should have lots of books, especially kids. So invest in your child's mind and do it well. Children are the future!