Valrico Resident Publishes 1st Children's Book

Longtime Valrico resident Terry O'Grady has teamed up with illustrator Rick Barrett to produce a new children's ebook, "The Kaleidoscope Kids."

The eBook, released in October, is available on Kindle, NOOK and in print from Amazon.com and at 3239 Lithia-Pinecrest Rd., Valrico. Another edition on iBooks is due to be released as well.

"The Kaleidoscope Kids" introduces a group of children who are struggling to learn to 10 fairies who are each characterized by a shape, number and color. These characters teach the children about their particular concepts with a lyrical rhyme.

The book is targeted for children 18 months to 5 years old. Older children would most likely know the concepts presented in the book but will enjoy the rhymes of the story.

O'Grady is the father of four grown children and has six grandchildren.

He has worked extensively with youth organizations, especially sports coaching programs in the Tampa Bay Area.

He said his experiences with his own children, as well as with the youth from communities he has worked with, give him unique insight into the world of children. And he decided to use those insights to write a children's book.

Richard Barrett is the father of two girls, Ariel, 8, and Lily, 6. He received his bachelor of arts degree at The Art Institute of Tampa, studying media arts and animation.

He spent three years working as a caricature artist at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and The Florida Aquarium.

Most recently, he and his partners, Samantha Ernman and Emily Eagan, have launched an entertainment business called Fire Sharks Arts and Entertainment, specializing in body art, caricatures and illustrations.

Visit "The Kaleidoscope Kids" website for more information.

To contact O'Grady about speaking to students, email author@thekaleidoscopekids.com.