Googly Eyes

Googly Eyes is a delightful and inspiring story about overcoming life's obstacles. The story begins with the main character, Toby the tadpole, second guessing himself due to his unique and wobbly eyes. At first dejected by his situation and thinking life has been unfair to him, Toby decides to go for a swim around the pond to think. During his trip, he discovers that many of his neighbors also have personal obstacles. As Toby's journey around the pond continues, he realizes that being different and having challenges is not unusual after all, and that life is not about who you are, but how you adapt and how hard you try. While Googly Eyes may be considered a children's book, its rhythmic message and colorful characters provide interest and appeal that transcends age. The passion from the author to help others maximize their self esteem and potential is quickly sensed. The author's empathy for people facing challenges derives from her own life experiences which include battling "lazy eye" (medical term strabismus) that required major surgery to correct, extensive volunteer work with Autistic children, and daily experiences and observations with one of her younger brothers who has Down Syndrome. While Googly Eyes certainly entertains and amuses, the book effectively presents a strong message of personal perseverance and acceptance of others that many will find a welcome lesson.