Launching in story and song
Music, children and story will combine in unique ways this Saturday as Wentworth Music hosts the launch of Good Natured Books.
Kelowna author and illustrator David Allen will be on-site for a reading, lullaby sharing and book signing of his newly-released preschool children’s book, A Song for Swinging.
The indie-publishing house, Good Natured Books, offers children’s storybooks about nature and being healthy. Allen loved to draw and write stories as a child and rediscovered his passion when his own chidlren began drawing and making art.
The debut storybook, A Song for Swinging, is described by Allen as the perfect read before bedtime or nap time. Lead characters Tingle and Tangle, a duo of gibbons, try their best at everything. So when a regular day in the trees takes a tumble, they are able to come out on top— while staying happy, healthy and in harmony with others.
“It all started one afternoon with my kids before nap-time; we were sitting together on our cozy rocking chair reading a new book about primates,” sakid Allen. “They both fell in love with the page about gibbons and, every time we read that book, they couldn’t wait to see them again.”
Then came the stuffies, gifts from their grandparents. Allen began sketching pictures of the fun-loving apes from the Asian jungle and his kids urged Dad to write his first book.
The storybook includes the musical notes to a bedtime lullaby, an original work by Allen.
“I wondered what kind of a song would Tingle and Tangle like before bedtime, so I came up with a simple lullaby that I would sing to my kids every night,” he said. “Children love to hear the sound of their parent’s voice and it sets them up for a good sleep, which leads to a happier child overall.”
Independent research has discovered both reading and music are essential to childhood development. A 2016 study from the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute found that musical experiences in childhood accelerates brain development, particularly in the areas of language acquisition and reading skills.
This desire to support both children and parents/caregivers is the foundation for Good Natured Books.
“Books are such an influential part of a child’s development and, with my kids, I found myself gravitating towards ones that offered stories of positive experiences,” said Allen. “My idea of being good-natured is that when doing the right thing comes naturally, we have the desire to make the world better. If children learn solid values at an early age, it helps them become more resilient in other areas of life.”
The public is invited to attend the book signing beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at Wentworth Music at 1634 Harvey Avenue in Kelowna.