When Justin Saved the Day

"Listen as I tell a story that you've never heard,
Although it really happened, you might think it's absurd."

This book tells the incredible real-life story of how Justin, this little aquatic frog, saved his fish-tank friends. The entire story is in rhyming poetry; each rhythmic stanza accompanied by an endearing illustration in the distinctive pen and ink style of Kate, the illustrator.

This is NOT one of those picture books that will be gathering dust on your bookshelf.

This book ...

helps cultivate your child's growing mind
Clinical research shows reading aloud (reciting) to children enriches them, independent of the child's understanding of the words. And the rhythm in a parent's voice reciting rhyming poetry is more than entertaining, it actually boosts the child's metacognition, and provides other documented benefits.

helps you avoid an unfortunate cultural trend
Unfortunately, as reported by Scholastic in 2018, most parents begin to phase out reading aloud at too young an age, unaware their children are actually still interested in being read to, still enjoy it, and would benefit from the experience. This book is created to help address these matters.

is enjoyable for you and your child age 0 to age 10 or beyond
Not only enriching for newborn through the toddler years, the older child will delight as they begin filling in the rhyming words on their own and soon advance to reciting more and more of the story. And as they get older they can be engaged to think about and discuss the underlying messages in this story.

This story ...

strengthens the bond with your child and helps enrich them
As the child listens to the rhythm in their parent's voice, and hears the rhymes, as they gaze at these gently delightful illustrations, they become emotionally and intellectually engaged in ways that conversation and regular story reading do not offer. In ways technology can't achieve.

is one of those read again bedtime stories that helps lull your child to sleep
The repetition of the child's experience listening to their parent recite this story so readily becomes a welcomed part of bedtime routine, offering a deep imprint on the child and the deepening of the bond with their parent, and helps lull them to sleep.

inspires us to think about others and of making a difference
This story is actually what happened that one night. But it is a story that conveys a deeper message, of the beauty of caring enough to do something, and the virtue of being courageous. And it reminds us that even the smallest acts can end up making a big difference.

This book, this story, is the legacy of little Justin's life.