Overview

In Just the Way I Am, new school bus Sabrina is getting ready for her very first day on the job and she's full of nerves. What if the kids don't like her? What if she's not good enough? She knows the route and the schedule by heart, but something still doesn't feel right. Like many children heading into a new school year, Sabrina worries about fitting in. Determined to make a good impression, she spends hours polishing up and trying to be the version of herself she thinks the kids want to see. But instead of feeling confident, she ends up more anxious than ever. With the patient support of her friends Sam & Gupta, Sabrina learns that friendship is about being yourself regardless of what you think others want you to be. This warm, engaging story helps young readers explore the value of self-acceptance while also creating a fun and inviting introduction into starting school, learning the days of the week, and practicing rhyming words. Parents can initiate conversations about making friends (the best ones embrace you just the way you are) while using Sabrina's journey as a guide.

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Reviews

""Warm, uplifting, and filled with heart, Just the Way I Am resonates with both children and adults. It reminds us all that the truest friendships and deepest confidence emerge not from who we pretend to be, but from embracing who we already are. Whether shared at bedtime or read before the first day of school, Sabrina's story offers comfort, courage, and joy."" - Literary Titan

Author Information

Karin LaScola is a former educator, TV news reporter and producer whose love of storytelling took root in newsrooms from Eureka, California to Norfolk, Virginia to Phoenix, Arizona. In each role, she developed a deep appreciation for clear, engaging writing an appreciation that eventually led her to a second career centered on children and literacy.Now based in Petaluma, California, she spends as much time as possible outdoors or inside her local library, where she volunteers to help families and children discover books they'll cherish. Her path shifted when she left the broadcast world to focus on raising her daughters, Dania and Alena. It was during those years that her attention turned to children's literature. Working as a reading support instructor at Kyrene Elementary School and Horizon Community Learning Centers, she saw firsthand the challenges young learners faced. That experience inspired her to pursue a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Literacy from Arizona State University, which she completed in 2017.The idea for Sam the School Bus was sparked by the simple sight of a yellow bus climbing the hill near her home each morning and afternoon. As the stories unfolded in her mind, she knew it was time to bring Sam's world to life-made even more exciting by the serendipitous partnership with a passionate and dedicated illustrator.She hopes readers will grow just as fond of Sam and his friends as she has and invites families to visit SamtheSchoolbus.com for early literacy tips and fun activities to enjoy with their children. Madison Grayson-Kopp is a largely self-taught illustrator who has long used art as a way to express herself, from sketchbooks and doodles to oil painting, charcoal, and even glass fusing. While most of her art education happened in middle and high school, she later squeezed in a college class or two between engineering courses. Though experienced in traditional media, she approached digital illustration as a new challenge, learning through curiosity, determination, and many YouTube tutorials.When a close family friend shared the idea for The Adventures of Sam the School Bus, a series celebrating individuality and kindness Madison immediately connected with the theme. Their collaboration led to Just the Way I Am, a warm, lighthearted book for children beginning school or discovering confidence in who they are.Madison lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband, dog, and cat. By day, she's a professional engineer; by night, a devoted artist excited to share this creative side of herself with the world.

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