Tiny Toba delivers positive message

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This article was published 22/04/2016 (2937 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Tiny Toba’s first journey has caught the attention of people across Manitoba—by teaching readers the importance of gold star gratitude.

The Secret Adventures of Tiny Toba: Gold Star Gratitude-First Journey, an all-ages book written and illustrated by Linda Szyszkowski and designed by her husband, Daniel Clement, follows the journey of a married couple, their dog, and a tiny bear across the country as they highlight an attitude for gratitude.

Szyszkowski, a teacher who formerly taught in Steinbach, and Clement, a graphic designer originally from Ste Anne, collaborated on the project after taking a month-long motorcycle journey across Canada last September.

It’s always been Szyszkowski’s dream to write a book. She said she journals and had the story written, but a combination of their each of their passions, their journey, and the people they met along the way tied the project together.

“We turned ourselves into cartoon characters,” said Szyszkowski.

Also prominent features in the book are the couple’s certified therapy dog , June, Clement’s custom motorcycle, One Hun, and Tiny Toba, a small bear who represents the friendly people of Manitoba.

Throughout the book, readers need to find Tiny Toba as a sort of mystery adventure, Szyszkowski said.

The book starts where the couple’s journey began—in Winnipeg—and follows their journey to the east coast of Canada.

Along the way, Clement, Szyszkowski, June, One Hun, and Tiny Toba encounter many people expressing gold star gratitude.

“It’s all about taking on an attitude of gratitude in life. It’s kind of like—join us on our gratitude journey,” said Szyszkowski. “When you take the time to be grateful—your gold star will shine. When you feel your heart is filled with happiness—you’ll feel wonderful.”

Along with Szyszkowski’s illustrations and Clement’s designs, the book features pictures the couple took along their journey as a back drop.

Szyszkowski said they met a lot of diverse people along their journey and the people illustrated in the book represent people they met along the way.

The book incorporates Kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum outcomes, so it’s not only a fun read for all ages, but educational as well. The end of the book also includes an activity for readers to write down their own gold star gratitudes.

“[On the back of the book] we said ‘instantly practice and new attitude of gratitude,’ because we want to just bring this into everyone’s life. Not just kids, but adults, too. We feel it’s a way of life,” said Clement.

“If you’re happy, just pass it on and it’ll keep going to other people. That’s the whole concept of our Secret Adventures of Tiny Toba.”

The Secret Adventures of Tiny Toba: Gold Star Gratitude-First Journey is available for purchase from Chapters, McNally Robinson Booksellers, Ten Thousand Villages in Steinbach, and the Ste Anne Library.

Szyszkowski and Clement will also launch their book at Ten Thousand Villages in Steinbach on Saturday, Apr. 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The couple will donate $1 from each book sold at Ten Thousand Villages Steinbach to ROC Eastman-Recreation Opportunities for Children.

Szyszkowski and Clement read their book and led activities for students at École Ste Anne Immersion Wednesday afternoon. The couple said they’re very grateful for the opportunity and hope to do more assemblies in other schools.