“Jelly Beans the Cheetah and Hope” is a children’s book about inclusion and how children can make a positive impact on each other that has been read and shared throughout the St. Cloud Area School District.
The author, Wendy Muhlhauser (pen name SissyMarySue), is currently working with some District 742 employees to translate the sequel, “Jelly Beans the Cheetah and Hope,” into Spanish and Somali. The book will also be translated into French and Italian.
Muhlhauser has had such a positive experience with District 742, she became a substitute teacher for the District as well.
Currently working on her doctoral degree, Muhlhauser uses her writing skills for positive outreach.
“I sought to become an author . . . to share a message,” she explains. “We all care about our youth.”
Muhlhauser discovered her writing skill after experiencing tragedy.
While living in New York, she was struck by a car, and a brain injury prevented her from working for two years.
It was during that time she learned that rhyming helps with brain injuries. She needed quiet activity and reflection.
Having suffered four additional concussions since her brain injury, Muhlhauser says, “I survived by having a simple life. I had to be careful cognitively, and it turned me into a writer. It all started with a disability.”
Experiencing the difficulties from her injury made her more cognizant of others struggling with being different.
In her first book, the character, Jelly Beans the Cheetah, represents that feeling of not belonging. Jelly Bean’s spots are in the shape and colors of jelly beans, therefore different from all the other cheetahs.
“Uniqueness is a gift,” she says. “If we choose to see it that way.”
Muhlhauser chose to see herself as unique.
During a trip to Africa, Muhlhauser stayed with a Tanzanian tribe.
“It inspired me,” she reflects. “I wanted to serve children. I just loved working with youth.”
Empathy can go a long way when it comes to children, and it’s Muhlhauser’s goal to teach children empathy in return.
In fact, her goal is so dear to her that she engages in grassroots development and marketing of her books to ensure they stay low cost to publish and sell.
“I love having young people be a part of things,” explains Muhlhauser.
Muhlhauser works with college students to create the artistry for her books as well as some of the translation.
Bonyin King, a Spanish immersion teacher at Clearview Elementary School, will be working on the Spanish translation of “Jelly Beans the Cheetah and Hope.”
“Wendy worked for me in my classroom as a substitute, and she shows amazing skills as an educator and is a great influence for me as a writer,” King says. “I think this book is a great guideline to start many different activities to talk about segregation, discrimination, racism etc… I love that Wendy specifies at the end of the book different strategies to read depending on the age of the students and expands with role-play. I think it is perfect for integrating abstract concepts, such as empathy.”
Muhlhauser also saw a need to translate the book into Somali. She recognized the lack of books available to local Somali students in their own language.
“It is one way to welcome them, by translating into Somali,” states Muhlhauser. “It can send a powerful message.”
A powerful message is exactly what she wants to send to today’s youth. Empathy, understanding, inclusion and compassion can shape and change each and every child’s life.
