New Kids Book from Kentucky Author and Illustrator Duo Teaches About Family and CASA
Oscar and Matilda are stars of the new children’s book, “Oscar’s Family,” which teaches children about family and introduces them to what CASA volunteers do for kids.
What does it mean to have a family? And who is part of your family? Oscar, a loveable and curious little boy, learns there’s much more to family than he thought in a new children’s picture book written and illustrated by two Kentucky residents.
“Oscar’s Family” is a brightly illustrated, 36-page book available now directly from CASA of Lexington or through Amazon. It follows Oscar as he gets to draw a picture of his family at school, and then learns from his foster mom how lots of people count as his family — whether or not they look like him or live with him.
Along the way, you meet Oscar’s CASA volunteer, Liz, and her certified courthouse facility dog Matilda.
“’Oscar’s Family’ is first of all a story about discovering just how many people care about you, which is a message all kids need to hear,” said the author, Melynda Jamison. “Kids and families can also learn about CASA along the way. CASA is a court program essential to improving the futures of so many children, but it’s also relatively unknown to many people.”
Jamison, a Perryville native, is Executive Director of CASA of Lexington, the largest CASA organization in Kentucky. She said “Oscar’s Family” is a fun read for any kid and their parents.
“Even children who have a loving, stable home will encounter friends at school and in the community who are not so lucky,” Jamison said. “’Oscar’s Family’ introduces all children to the idea that families can look very different, and that’s a good thing!”
“Oscar’s Family” was illustrated by Matthew Walden, a Lexington resident who has also crafted unique superhero characters for CASA of Lexington’s annual Superhero Run.
“Telling the visual side of ‘Oscar’s Family’ was an exciting opportunity, because I was given much freedom with style, colors, and design, as well as the interpretations of characters and the emotions underlying their words and actions,” Walden said. “Illustrating ‘Oscar’s Family’ was also an opportunity to use my time and talents to help put something good into the world, to add beauty that might enrich the lives of others and inspire them to think in new ways about what love and family mean. It’s my own way to join in the kind of work which CASA does so well.”
While all the other characters are fictional, Oscar’s teacher, Mrs. Best; his CASA Volunteer, Liz; and her dog, Matilda, are all based on real people. Mrs. Best taught elementary school children in Jamison’s hometown of Perryville for 49 years, and just recently retired. Liz and Matilda are members of the CASA of Lexington staff — Liz Noffsinger is a Volunteer Manager and Canine Handler and Matilda is Kentucky’s only certified courthouse facility dog, now in her fourth year of service.
“Matilda has helped countless Kentucky children, whether they have CASA volunteers or not,” Noffsinger said. “She has traveled all over the state, helping kids testify in court and going on home visits to help put children at ease. Matilda is a helper at heart, and now she gets to help every kid who reads ‘Oscar’s Family!’”
All proceeds from sales of “Oscar’s Family” will benefit CASA of Lexington in its mission to ensure all children in central Kentucky have a safe, permanent home. CASA of Lexington is on Facebook and Instagram as @CASAofLexington. Walden is on Instagram as @mdaileywalden.
Buy Oscar's Family Online
"Oscar's Family" is available directly from CASA of Lexington at https://bit.ly/oscarsfamily or on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3QGGeYz.