In the world of children’s literature, anything is possible. Characters can soar on sky-blue wings, visit ancient cities, help hand puppets sing grand operas and tame wild animals with a glance. Children run rampant with imagination and play out their pretend dreams.

Likewise, children’s authors stand before a blank slate—searching for sparks to stimulate their pens to take them to one magical world or another. Brandy Rhodes, a Gulf Shores High School and Auburn University graduate and teacher, is no different.

She participated in books sales and signings of Good Morning Sun, her first publication, along with answering questions from the audience during an April 7th event at LuLu’s at Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores.

“I was incredibly nervous at first, but once I saw so many adults and children excited about the book I finally realized, this is really happening,” Rhodes said with astonishment. “It was cool to have Lucy Buffett make a special effort to attend by book signing because she is a successful author who self-published her own book as well.”

“LuLu's in itself attracts many visitors, so it is hard to gauge the amount of people who were actually there. My day was successful, selling more books than I ever dreamed of and I thoroughly enjoyed sharing the book with my third grade class at Orange Beach Elementary. I was pleased to get to have many conversations with both current and retired teachers throughout the day. They loved the book and thought it was a great accomplishment for me. Visitors asked questions pertaining to when I decided to write, the process of publishing, and if I was going to continue writing children's books. I look forward to working on my second book this summer and publishing it by fall of this year.”

Kim Ward, Brandy’s mother, beamed at the thought of her daughter’s success.

“This is truly the most incredible feeling of excitement, joy and accomplishment you could possibly feel for your child,” she lit up as she spoke. “I am so very proud of her—while watching the children at her first book signing at Lulu’s talk with her and to be excited about reading, warmed my heart.”

While publication and signing events might be new to the family, both women expressed familiarity with nurturing talent.

“As a mother you do pick up on talents of your children, both of my children Brandy and Cody have always enjoyed writing and expressing themselves,” she began. “I always encouraged that form of expression; Brandy, through the years while attending St. Benedict and in her high school years at Gulf Shores High School, would enter writing contests, which I feel helped her grow as a writer.”

“Her drawing and illustrating was with the help of my mother, Pat Ward, who kept Brandy when I went back to work after having her. They both would sit for hours, drawing and reading at such an early age.”

Rhodes divulged that early nurturing and college experiences lead her to the finished product.

“I began writing and illustrating when I was a junior at Auburn University, while taking my entry-level early childhood classes,” she said. “My professor, Dr. Brabham gave us an assignment to make a ‘big book’ and that is how this all began.”

“The first version was oversized and I used paint in my illustrations. Then, I decided to take it a step further and create the pages on the computer using paint. After critiquing it for months and months, adding pages and removing pages, I was able to begin the publishing process.”

Rhodes said the book came as a logical step to further her passion for helping children.

“Since I was a young child I have been interested in children's picture books, but now I am enjoying looking through a different set of eyes. Now I am able to create stories that combine basic skills such as reading, colors, shapes, and counting. This is a great strategy because young readers are interested in the book and don’t even realize they are learning. That is what teaching is all about... having fun learning!”

Her mother said that her talents of expression and giving both bloomed in her early years.

“Brandy has a special and unique gift, and that is the love for children; she knew in second grade she one day would be a teacher, and good one,” Ward recalled. “She has set her goals high and is full-filling them. While attending Auburn University earning her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Early Childhood Education, she stayed consistently in an ‘excitement mode’. Her internship that involved working with all kinds of children would one day help her build a classroom of children who would want to learn. Brandy and Cody both have always been surrounded by a wonderful group of children that have helped mold them into individuals that love and care for others. Brandy’s talent or a part of her personality is deeply caring for children and recognizing their individual personalities and building on that as a teacher.”

She explained that a long cycle of learning brought about a bright present and future.

“I was raised around listening to Broadway productions, reading beautiful books about how other countries live and understanding their cultures. So as a parent I always tried to instill and expose my children to the same environment, making sure they understood that it’s okay to love different music, visit museums and read about different countries. To this day most of the art in my home is created by my children; that’s the best kind of art—‘one of a kind’ and original.”

Rhodes revels in the teachings of her own childhood, and is happy to pass such lessons along, she said.

“It's amazing to see the book in its final product—almost overwhelming. It started in a big book format as a teaching tool and now is traveling around the world. I never really thought this would happen, but thanks to my family encouraging me it is now a reality…it is very rewarding to see my book in the hands of children learning to read.”