Mix and Match Wood

About the Book

Once upon a time, in the Mix and Match Wood, a land where magic lives, there also lived a small boy named John, who was born with a challenge. One of his legs was shorter than the other, making walking uncomfortable. John found it difficult to keep up with the other children, and this made him sad and lonely. But then he met the wise old elepig, a creature whose elephant head and pig body meant that he faced his own challenges with fitting in. And on that magical day, John made a new friend, who would take him on the adventure of his life—an adventure to exotic places, but most importantly, to a place of acceptance of himself and others. Written in simple and direct language, Mix and Match Wood was created to nourish a child’s love of adventure and to inspire a love of reading. It is a story of love, acceptance, and tolerance for all beings and a celebration of diversity and difference. Mix and Match Wood seeks to encourage children to be their best, look for the best in others, and embrace all the many things that make people unique and special.

About the Author

Barbara Steel Knowles was born and educated in England. She has been a teacher for more than twenty years, and has lived and worked in Cyprus, Germany, and the Middle East; she currently teaches at an international school in Cyprus. She is also a newspaper columnist and has collaborated in the publication of education articles.