Cally and Me
When two young girls journey through an enchanted garden, their ordinary picnic is transformed and a magical kingdom revealed. But when their horses lead them into the Forest of Fear, they’ll have to rely on each other (and some bees) to make it back home…
Discover the magic of nature and experience the power of friendship! Inspired by Monet’s gardens in Giverny, France and written to support Dolch sight words for grades K-2, this story of friendship and imagination will inspire children in their creative adventures.
Rachel’s Story Behind The Book…
A CHILDHOOD DREAM IN PARIS
One of my big dreams as a child was to write a children’s picture book. Back in 2015, while studying creative writing in Paris, I wrote the first version of Cally and Me. Pulling inspiration from artists, nature, and my adventures around the world, I spent the next year working on the story as it evolved into what it is today. My greatest wish is that this book will inspire readers to believe in themselves and their dreams.
INSPIRATION BEHIND THE BOOK
Inspired by Claude Monet’s Gardens in Giverny, France and the life-long friendship between my Grandma and her best friend, Zella, Cally and Me is not only an engaging story that invites the reader to come along on an exciting journey, but also one that will inspire readers to use their imagination, be creative, and rely on themselves.
NATURE’S ROLE
As an Oregon native, having a deep appreciation for the outdoors, nature plays a key role in this story. From character names and dresses created to mimic garden flowers, to their adventure through the forest and victory with the bees, you’ll find that Cally and Me inspires the reader to explore the wonders of nature, starting in their own backyard.
DID YOU KNOW
Pictures I took at Monet’s Gardens inspired the beautifully illustrated garden scenes. Inside the book you’ll notice a watercolor look and feel; a design element I imagined from the moment I began writing the story. You’ll also find that kids enjoy spotting animals from one page to the next and watch for Princess Lilac and Queen Lily whose dresses mimic garden flowers (Lilacs and a combination of a Water Lily and a Calla Lily).
What People Are Saying About Cally and Me…
“Cally and Me takes me back to exactly the kind of story I used to love as a child, the stories that seemed to capture my own boredom and longing for adventure, and offer an escape route from mundane daily life.”
“I love this book! It should be a series.”
“I can see this as a Disney/Pixar movie!”
“I love the details! It’s just like me and my best friend!”
“Cally is friendly, calm, and confident giving a hand [to lift] me up – to go fly and look for my dreams. The message will help a lot of people in the world!”
Meet The Author and Creator
Additionally, Rachel has been recognized as one of America’s PremierExperts™ in personal development and has been seen on ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX. She is the host of Infinite Success® Radio and creator of the award-winning Infinite Success® System. Her primary focus is to encourage, inspire, and empower people of all ages to achieve their dreams.
As an adventure seeker and lover of life, Rachel has had the privilege of traveling all over the world and living internationally with her family. With a passion for writing and photography, she finds inspiration in everyday life as well as when she travels. Some of her favorite international destinations include Italy, Greece, France, Ireland, England, Hawaii, South Korea, Scotland, and Thailand.
Learn more about Rachel at http://www.ConnectWithRachel.com
Meet The Illustrator
After receiving her BA Honors in Graphic Design at Nottingham Trent University, she found her big break creating editorial illustrations for a number of UK magazines. Since then, she has worked with top publishers such as Bloomsbury, Orchard Books, Egmont and Scholastic illustrating a wide range of children’s books. She has drawn everything from mermaids to teen detectives and loves the creative challenges of life as a freelance artist!
In 2013 she set up a stationery business called Rosie & Radish with graphic designer Amy Clarke, creating their own brand of greeting cards and gifts. She regularly goes on drawing adventures around the world, seeking inspiration from places near and far – most recently Hong Kong, New York, and Tanzania. When Helen is not busy illustrating quirky little children’s characters she loves to hang out with her two little boys Bertie and Ned, her crazy dog Ralph and her husband Luke exploring the scenic countryside of North East England.
Praise For Cally and Me…
🦋 “Cally is friendly, calm, and confident giving a hand [to lift] me up – to go fly and look for my dreams. The message will help a lot of people in the world.”
🌸 “I love the details! It’s just like me and my best friend!”
✨ “I can see this as a Disney/Pixar movie!”
❤️ “I love this book! It should be a series.”
📚 “Cally and Me takes me back to exactly the kind of story I used to love as a child, the stories that seemed to capture my own boredom and longing for adventure, and offer an escape route from mundane daily life.”
From The Kickstarter Campaign
With support from individuals around the world, we successfully completed a Kickstarter campaign to bring Cally and Me to readers everywhere. This book encourages friendship and adventure while inspiring readers to believe in themselves and their dreams. We are excited to share that Cally and Me will be in the hands of children in 8 countries! Sincere gratitude to everyone who supported the book. We’d also like to recognize a few individuals who greatly contributed to the campaign…
BEST FRIENDS FOREVER
Exceeding gratitude to the following individuals for supporting Cally and Me at the Best Friends Forever Backer Level:
Advisor Ink
Roger Rekate
Gretchan Varady
ULTIMATE BACKERS
Big THANK YOU to the following individuals for supporting Cally and Me as Ultimate Backers:
Arlene Chambers
Kerstin S. Bodily
Calvin O’Brien
Behind The Scenes of Cally and Me
