Books published by Bellissima Publishing

Whenever little Jadzia comes to visit, she has a story in mind; and even though she is only five years old, she is ready to make a book, with a little help from Penelope Dyan, who is also ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work! Everyone has a story in them, and Jadzia Fisher seems to have lots of stories she is ready and willing to tell and share.Penelope Dyan is an award winning author, attorney and former teacher who loves kids and writes books in order to encourage children to read, write, learn and create. She doesn't mind in which order these things occur, because she believes all good things come in their own time and that learning to think and to reason is the most important thing of all. This is probably why two of Dyan's earlier books for children are on display at the Saison Poetry Library at the Southbank Centre in London, UK, chosen by the UK Arts Council, and why her award winning book, 'Surfer Girl' is listed in the Girl's Voices In Literature Database, Miami University, Florida.Dyan uses tried and true classroom techniques in her books to inspire; and if Jadzia Fischer is an example of this, then it would seem her methods are still working!

This book started out as a day of the week book, but then it ended up just being a book about Monday. Now some people think Sunday is the first day of the week, but any kid would disagree. You see Monday is the first day of the week that a kid has to go to school, unless that kid happens to be sick. Find out what one kid thinks about getting up on Monday morning to head off to school as you practice your reading skills and enjoy the kid-friendly, oh so funny drawings of Penelope Dyan. Use the word repetition and rhyme, as well as the drawings, to guess what is coming next. You can even try making your own book about Monday, or about another day of the week. Written by award winning author, attorney and former teacher. Penelope Dyan, this is a great book to have when you are learning to read or to just practice your reading skills. There is also a fun video on the Bellissimavideo YouTube Channel to further enhance the learning process.

Sometimes you can look all over the house and not find what you need. Sometimes you misplace something because you forgot where you left it or last put it. When Bowser awoke he wanted to get dressed, but he couldn't find his trousers. He looked and looked for them, to no avail. Where did his trousers go? If you lost your trousers what would you do? Who would you ask to help you find them? Would you properly exercise all of the available options in an attempt to locate your long lost trousers? Find out what Bowser did when he couldn't find his trousers one fine morning. See if you think he looked in all the right places.Award winning author, attorney and former teacher Penelope Dyan wrote the story of Bowser's Trousers to help entice the imagination. Finish the rhymes. Make up a rhyming story of your own. If you can write all the words, then write them down. If you can't write all the words, ask an adult to write them down for you. See if you can draw some funny pictures to go with your story, and make your very own book. Use some rhyming words to help you learn to read. Most of all, have fun with words and learning, because there is nothing like a book!

Penelope Dyan, award winning author, attorney and former teacher, introduces her readers to a little bit of some very classic Lewis Carroll, as she opens and ends this book, so that children can contemplate the meaning of things as they may.This book about doing all you can and not procrastinating about things that really need to be done, is also another 'learn to read book' filled with word recognition, word repetition and rhyme, with kid-friendly drawings and a few old friends and some brand new words on which a child can build vocabulary skills.Use this book and think about what Penelope Dyan has to say about things on a plate, and then talk about what this book might mean to you. Try taking the words and copying them, and then draw some of your own pictures to make your very own book! Then for even more learning fun, go to the Bellissimavideo YouTube channel and look for the fun music video that goes along with this book!

A mother's love is everlasting. It has no beginning, and it has no end. It floats on the breeze. This 'learn to read' book is about the breeze and the love in the breeze. If you close your eyes and sit oh so very still, you will feel it. It chases away sadness. It makes you feel warm when it is cold outside, because that is what love is.Written by the award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Pnelope Dyan, this book opens the door for serious discussion. It can be read to a child or read by a child; but it is the discussion that matters, and since the words are meant to make a child think, it is up to the child as to what this book really means. It was written for the child of a very dear friend, and it is all about when mothers have to be away, even when they don't want to be away. The basis of the book is what this mother told her child about having to be away. But what this book really means to any child, is up to that child. There is a free music video on the Bellissimavideo YouTube channel that Penelope Dyan hopes you will also watch.

Sometimes a kid gets down on himself or herself, because that kid thinks he or she needs to be just like everyone else, and all they want to be is a 'normal' kid. But exactly what is normal? People always talk about things like getting back to normal, but the truth is what is normal for one person or one family might NOT be normal for another person or another family. Read this 'learn to read' book and find out why normal is just being YOU!Written by the award winning author, attorney, and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, this book is the perfect size for two little hands to hold; and the extra-large sized print is easy on little eyes and makes this book, filled with word repetition, and word recognition and rhyme, an 'easy to read' book!So open the pages of this book, that ends with an important message, and take a walk through all kinds of normal, as YOU decide what being normal really is, because being normal is simply as easy as being YOU! Then, to further enhance the learning experience, you can watch the free music video on the Bellissimavideo YouTube channel that goes along with this book for even more learning fun!

Hearts are broken all the time. Maybe your best friend gets mad at you, and then your heart is broken. What do you do when you get a broken heart? The best thing is to go where your heart is. Do you know where that could possibly be? If you don't, then read this 'learn to read' book and find out! Written by the award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, you can use this book to discuss what it means to have a broken heart, and what you can do to fix it! The child friendly drawings, word recognition, repetition and rhyme all help you in the learning experience; and the size of this book and its extra large print makes reading this book easy on young eyes, and perfect for little hands to carry.Penelope Dyan believes learning should be fun, and that if you don't have fun learning, then you will not love to learn. With that in mind, she also created a music video that goes with this book that you can watch on the Bellissimavideo YouTube channel So laugh and sing, use the words in this book and copy its drawings to make books of your very own! But most of all have fun learning, because learning really is fun!

The Battle of New Orleans (1814-1815) the last battle of the War of 1812, ended attempts of England to regain control of American Colonies that were lost in the American Revolution in the War for Independence. General Andrew Jackson, the Pirate Jean Lafitte and his men, along with local volunteers, defended the city of New Orleans! The final battle took place January 8, 1815. You can walk the breadth of the field, if you like, see the monuments and more; but the best part is what you don't see, and what you can imagine, especially if you are a boy! You can also see the plantation house of the Chalmet family, who were left in dire, financial ruin after the battles of New Orleans. They sold the house in 1817 to brothers Hilaire and Louis St. Amand, who were legally declared free people of color and allowed under the laws of Louisiana to own property as well as slaves. They repaired the house and restored the land to a sugar plantation at a time when sugar production in Louisiana was a rapidly growing industry.Written by award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan. with photographs by John D. Weigand, this 'learn to read' book is meant for boys, but girls are free to read it, of course! Look for the music video that goes with this book on the Bellissimavideo YouTube channel to further enhance the learning experience!

This is a Penelope Dyan 'learn to read' book with a purpose. What is that purpose? The purpose of this book is to engage the child, to let the child look at a place filled with music, mystery and magic, as a child sees a place. And then if you go there, to see how many things the child recognizes, and how many more things he or she can discover. Travel is, after all, an exploration. And each place you visit has its own feel, its very own personality. If travel is to be memorable, then you need to remember its feel!Written by the award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan and filled with the Photographs of John D. Weigand, kids can practice reading skills through word recognition, word repetition and rhyme as they explore just some of the things they can see or do in this interesting and fun city.When kids are finished exploring this book, they can see even more of New Orleans by watching, singing and dancing to the music video that goes with this book on the Bellissimavideo YouTube channel.

This is a typical 'learn to read' Penelope Dyan book all about shoes that you can read to practice your reading skills as you discuss a very important subject, filling a pair of shoes. You see, nothing is as important as being a true and good friend, and while some shoes may fit, others don't. So if the shoe happens to fit, then you really should wear it, just like the old saying goes! But in this case, wearing the shoes is a good thing and not a bad thing!Penelope Dyan is an award winning author, an attorney and a former teacher. Two of her books are on display at the Saison Poetry Library in the Royal Exhibit Hall, Southbank Centre. London, UK, chosen by the UK Arts Council, "Ben's Adventures--Proof Positive A Boy Will Be a Boy," and "Happy Birthday--A Book About Birthdays, Dreams And Wishes." Use this kid-sized book with its kid-friendly illustrations, word repetition, word recognition and rhyme to not only learn to read, but also to help you make books of your very own. Copy the drawings and the words and have fun learning. Then visit the Bellissimavideo YouTube Channel and watch a free music video that goes with this book for more learning fun!

This 'learn to read' book by award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan is a faith-based book that tells the biblical tale of Noah in a way even the youngest of children can understand. And, of course, we all know how this story begins and how this story ends!Use this book to practice your reading skills through word recognition, word repetition and rhyme, and have fun with the kid friendly illustrations and the music video that goes along with this book, that you can find on the Bellissimavideo YouTube channel.Dyan wants kids to dance, to sing, and to even copy the words and drawings in this kid-sized book perfect for little hands to hold. (And the extra large print makes the words easy to see.) So read the book, and then make some books of your very own! Penelope Dyan thinks learning should be fun and that if kids have fun as they learn, they will love to learn! She also believes books for kids should be for kids, and this is why she makes all her books exactly the way she makes them . . . just for kids!

You should never say anything bad about another person, and you should never carry tales, repeat things you overhear or spread rumors about what you think you might have seen or heard, because you might be wrong about what you saw or heard, and you might also be invading the privacy of another person.Written by the award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, this book teaches reading concepts through word recognition, word repetition and rhyme as it encourages children to discuss behavioral attributes.This ¿learn to read¿ book is perfect for the core curriculum, and is a great teaching and learning resource. The extra large print is perfect for little eyes, and the kid-friendly drawings and rhyme encourages kids to draw and write books of their very own! Then to add to the learning fun, there is a video that goes along with this book on the Bellissimavideo YouTube channel!

The ancient settlement of "Brighthelmstone" dates from before the 1086 Domesday Book. It became a health resort during the 18th century, was once used as a seaside getaway by the Prince Regent, and became a destination for day-trippers from London soon after the railway arrived in 1841. Brighton lies between the South Downs and the English Channel. That said, the main thing that will interest a kid is the grand amusement park that sits right on the Brighton Pier, a 'must see' and 'must go' place for all families. You can find good food right there on the pier, a place for Mom to rest her weary feet, rides and more!Award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan and photographer John D. Weigand, put words and pictures together to give kids a glimpse of what they might see and do on a visit to Brighton, UK. This 'learn to read' book is meant to get kids thinking as they practice reading skills through the use of word recognition, word repetition and simple rhyme. Even the youngest kids can guess what is coming next in the verse and build on their reading vocabulary. Penelope Dyan wants reading to be both educational as well as fun, because if you are not having fun learning, you will not love to learn. There is a music video on the Bellissimavideo YouTube channel that goes along with this book for even more learning fun!

Greenwich is known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian (0° longitude) as well as for Greenwich Mean Time. The town was the site of a royal palace, the 15th century Palace of Placentia. It was the birthplace of many in the House of Tudor, including Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. There is a lot to see and do in Greenwich, and this is why Penelope Dyan and photographer John D. Weigand put their visit to this place into three fun books that are easy for kids to remember, see and read. Look for their other two books on Greenwich to complete the set of these 'easy to read' books that are perfectly sized for little hands to hold, "On The Line! A Kid's Guide To The Royal Observatory, Greenwich, UK," and "The Cutty Sark--A Kid's Guide To The Cutty Sark, UK." Penelope Dyan is an attorney, an award winning author and also a former teacher; and these books are fashioned to facilitate reading skills as they endeavor to create a desire to learn more as kids practice reading skills through word repetition, and word recognition and rhyme. There are music videos to go along with each Greenwich book on the Bellissimavideo YouTube channel to further enhance the learning process, and (of course) for even more learning fun!

Virginia City was a mining boomtown; it appeared virtually overnight as a result of the Comstock Lode silver strike of 1859, found because of the sticky mud washed from the shovels while mining for gold! During its heyday, Virginia City had more than 30,000 residents and was called the richest city in America. Virginia City is also the "birthplace" of Mark Twain, as it was here (in February 1863) that the young writer Samuel Clemens, who was then a reporter for the Territorial Enterprise newspaper, first used his famous pen name, Mark Twain. Virginia City, USA's largest National Historic Landmark, is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. President Lincoln needed gold and silver to keep the Union solvent during the Civil War, so on October 31, 1864, Lincoln made Nevada a state, even though it didn't have enough people to constitutionally authorize statehood. Take a trip to this famous city through the lens of John D. Weigand and through the verse of Penelope Dyan, who is an award winning author, attorney and former teacher. Dyan and Weigand see what kids see, and know how to grab their interest. Nothing is spoon fed here as Dyan's intent is to inspire questioning and learning, and this is what she does best, because to learn one begins with inspiration.

Bern is the seat of Switzerland's government, the capitol. The Houses of Parliament rise above the city just a stone's throw away from the railway station. The doors to the Houses of the Parliament are open to visitors almost all of the time, if this is what you want to see, but Penelope Dyan and John Weigand didn't go there, instead opting to walk on foot through this city to see what they could see through the lens of Photographer John D. Weigand.Dyan believes children see through different eyes, and that whatwill capture their imaginations is very different from that which captures the eyes of an adult. Award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, knows kids and she also knows exactly how to capture their interests and what will catch a child's eye. Use this book as a stepping stone to learning about the city if Bern. If you go to Bern, fill the pages in between with tickets, postcards, notes and drawings of your own. Or lookup more fats on line or in books and add this to the book, if you happen to be traveling vicariously with them through these pages. This visit (in this book)is a search for a very special clock. Do you think you could find it? Dyan and Weigand did, and so can you!

We are the future and at the same time we must look to the past as a guide for the future. Use this book to take one small look at the past as photographer John D, Weigand, and award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan show you some of the things they saw when they went to Olympia Greece to the site of the very first Olympiad! Use your imagination and see if you can see where all the buildings and pillars once stood. Imagine the excitement of those very first games and all the people who came from far and wide to participate in them. Once good thing is there are signs that explain where everything once stood---but you still have to use your imagination! Use this book (as with all Weigand/Dyan travel books for kids) as a starting point to your learning. Fill it with your own photos, sketches, postcards and other things to make this book your very own and one of a kind!As a former teacher Dyan knows keeps see with keen eyes, and they often see what me miss. You might be surprised at what they see, think and learn when they aren't spoon fed a boring set of facts! Children need to use all the tools in their toolboxes of learning, and imagination and creation are the just the beginning!

What is the best possible gift you can ever imagine, and who do you think gave you this gift? Think about all the wonderful things in your life and then decide what is really the mot important thing to you and why. What does Christmas mean to you? Penelope Dyan has an idea about Christmas and about Christmas gifts and she will tell you all about her ideas in this little book.Based on the concept of family and self awareness, Dyan uses her skills as a former early childhood educator to broaden the minds of little ones everywhere. Self awareness is part of any good school curriculum and young students are even tested on this subject. Common tests include draw yourself (this is where Dyan's book 'Sticks' comes in handy.) and draw your family. These tests are generally used by educators to determine reading readiness and social development, and by simply reading these books and discussing the concepts presented and encouraging your child to draw himself (or herself) and family you can give your child a head start on performance of these fundamental skill tests. This book is also suitable as a Christmas gift for any age, and is much better to give or send than a Christmas card, because this book will tell the person who received it that you really care.Dyan is an award winning writer, and an attorney, as well as a former teacher, and her love and understanding of children permeates every single one of her child sized and child friendly books. There is a reason to celebrate the Christmas season, and the gifts under the Christmas tree are only one very, very small part of the big package that makes up Christmas. Cherish every moment.

It is unkind when someone makes fun or you or tells you lies, because it can make you think bad things about yourself, and a person should never think bad things about themselves. So this book is all about what you do and say when someone says something that is just not right.Written and illustrated by former teacher and award winning writer and attorney Penelope Dyan, this book reminds us that we are all different, and that we are all very special. And the one thing that is the most important thing of all to remember is that we must be who we are and who we were meant to be and not pay a single bit of attention to those detractors who discourage us, and tell us lies and even say bad or mean things about us or to us. Why? Because it is our differences that make us who we are, and we are all special!Dyan reminds us to be one of a kind, to not listen when others say things to us or about us that are just not true (or that are just plain silly) and her very funny drawings and poetry remind us that like all of us, she is also one of a kind.

There is money, and then there is wealth, and the two things may sound like they are the same, when in actuality they are very different; and the truth is, that the best things in life really are free!Practice reading skills through word recognition and word repetition and rhyme as you consider the concepts of life and what is really important in life that you cannot buy.Written and illustrated by award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, once again this book is meant not only to teach basic reading skills, but is also meant to get a kid thinking. And while all this is happening, a kid can have some real fun with a host of familiar characters.And then for even more learning fun, go to the Bellissimavideo YouTube channel and watch the free music video that goes along with this book! After all, learning should be fun; and if a kid has fun learning, a kid will love to learn!

Archaeological research has shown the Cahuilla people have lived and thrived in the Palm Springs area for the past 350-500 years. The Cahuilla name for the area was "Se-Khi," which means "boiling water." Some think the name Palm Springs originated from early Spanish explorers who called the area as "La Palma de la Mano de Dios," which means "The Palm of God's hand". Written by award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, with photographs by John D. Weigand, this book lets kids glimpse a bit of what they can do when they go to this beautiful place, set way out in the desert. Once famous for being a get away destination for movie stars and the rich and famous, Palm Springs is now an affordable resort area where a kid can have some real fun!Enjoy this 'learn to read' book, and practice reading skills through word, repetition, word recognition and rhyme. The extra-large print and its size is perfect for carrying along in a kid's backpack. All that remains for you to do is to start 'heading out!' So enjoy your trip, whether it be through the pages of this book or in real life; and don't forget to watch the free music video (that goes along with this book) on the Bellissimavideo YouTube Channel!

Never forget the old woman who lives in the shoe. That said, you might think you don't really know anyone who lives in a shoe, especially an old woman; but you really do! You see this shoe is just a pretend shoe, a metaphor for what really is; and the old woman may be anyone you know, an old lonely woman who lives in the house down the street, or even your very own grandmother! Anyone who is alone and lonely can be the old woman in the shoe, and someday when you are very, very old (although I know this is difficult for you to even imagine) that old woman or old man might even be you! And it is really no fun to live alone in a shoe, even a metaphoric one! What can you do? Why you can reach out to that metaphoric old woman in the shoe, and you won't have to look long or too far to find her.This 'learn to read' book by award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, is meant to make you think. And you should always think about others before you think about yourself, because that is what makes us human. There is a free music video you can watch on YouTube on the Bellissimavideo channel that goes right along with this book; and hopefully, that video will not only be fun, it will also help you to think about other people and how they feel.