Books by Theresa Gonzales

Children often don''t understand why other children look, act, walk, and talk different. However, children are very curious and are more apt to ask why that other child is different from them. The answer is that those children, if given a chance, are more like them. They want what every other child wants-to be liked, to fit in, and to have fun.Matt, Michael, and Jimmy live in the neighborhood where a little girl moves in across the street. Her family moved there because the little girl called Amy is developmentally disabled and needs a better educational program.The boys know she is new in the neighborhood. They know she goes to a different school, and they know she has a disability. However, they still choose to ignore her. One day, Amy sees the boys playing outside. She walks across the street, sits down on the grass, and stays there until she gets their attention. With Amy''s help, the boys learn something they would have never expected.

The children in the town of Willow Creek wait anxiously each week for the little train that brings supplies to Mr. Hermans general store. The conductor, Mr. Mike, always brings special surprises to pass out to the children, and after the supplies are unloaded, he lets the children board the train for a ride. The children find out from Mr. Mike that the little train, the VonAaron Express, will no longer be coming to their town to bring supplies, and they become very upset. The parents observe how sad the children are, so they come together to figure out how they can get the VonAaron Express back into their town, so they can bring happiness back to their children.

Upon waking one morning, the ladybug sisters Penelope and Priscilla are complaining about eating the same old bug mites and Momma Ladybug reinforces the "Ladybug Duty" of why they must rid the garden of the bad bug mites so that people can have nice, beautiful gardens. Their mother encourages them to use their imagination to create a feast and it would not be like eating bug mites at all. As they fly to the garden, they find that they can have an exciting, fun-filled day using their imagination. This short story will remind children that creating their own imaginary play can be lots of fun.