The Boy Who Turned Lives Around
As The World Turned Upside Down!
This fictional, bilingual children’s book was first inspired by the original illustrations of 5-year-old Tommy Wong amid true events that took place in 2020.
While navigating ‘new normal’ routines brought about by an evolving pandemic and extreme weather events, Tommy took to drawing and began creating new and innovative devices using things he could find at home. That’s when Tommy and his family decided to put their first children’s book together!
The Boy Who Turned Lives Around As The World Turned Upside Down! is dedicated to Tommy’s family, friends, teachers as well as to the ‘silent heroes’ in our midst, especially all healthcare, essential and migrant workers.
Winner of 2021 Story Monsters Approved!:
- Early Readers (Ages 5-9) Fiction
- Education/Reference
- Green Living/Environmental Issues
- Making a Difference
- Picture Books (Ages 3-8) Fiction
Winner of 2021 Royal Dragonfly Book Award:
- Best Illustrations/Photography
- Picture Books 6 & Older
- STEM
“Hard times can bring out the best in us or, the worst, depending on our focus. This interesting story shows us what can be accomplished when a young family finds themselves burrowed down in a pandemic. Filled with care and concern for their garden and community, young Tommy and his dad set about to bring creative ways to adjust in their hard times. It is an inspiring and hopeful story, reminding us to keep a positive focus, even in dark times.” – Darleen Wohlfeil, Children’s Literature Author