In this episode, I chat with my cousin Denyse, the illustrator of the Caring Critters series, about the impact of Felipe the Feeling Frog and our new character, Trixie the Thoughtful Turtle. We discuss fostering social-emotional skills like decision-making through positive language and reflect on the joy of children’s artistic responses to our work. Denyse shares her vision for Trixie as a character that challenges stereotypes while promoting playful learning. Join us as we explore the importance of storytelling in early childhood education and inspire meaningful connections between parents, teachers, and children.

In this episode I share:

• Behind the scenes of the reactions to the Caring Critters series
• Celebrating Felipe the Feeling Frog
• Introducing Trixie the Thoughtful Turtle
• The making of Trixie and other characters
• Understanding expected vs. unexpected behavior

Related Episodes:

• Introducing Felipe the Feeling Frog - Ep. 6

Resources Mentioned:

• Trixie the Thoughtful Turtle
• Felipe the Feeling Frog

Connect with Denyse:

• Instagram - @denysewithawhy
• Website - denysewithawhy.com

Connect with Zeba:

• Instagram - @kindergartencafe
• Facebook - @kindergartencafe
• Website - www.kindergartencafe.org
• Tik Tok - @kindergartencafe

Mentioned in this episode:

Caring Critters Books

Felipe the Feeling Frog: https://www.kindergartencafe.org/felipe/

Trixie the Thoughtful Turtle: https://www.kindergartencafe.org/trixie/