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A Dive into the Blue
Released by Beaming Books.
The drain at the bottom of the pool can swallow you up–at least that is what a small girl believes as she is learning to jump off the diving board. However, believing something and believing in something are two different things. The girl must decide what she thinks to be true to take the plunge into the blue.
The inspiration for this story comes from a childhood memory. When I was four years old, I was terrified of the drain at the bottom of the swimming pool. I truly thought it was going to swallow me up if I came anywhere near it. So, I developed strategies to bypass the drain – swimming around it, diving over it, splashing objects in the water to create the illusion that it had disappeared—finally, I chose to be brave, because I knew I had to be, the drain was not going away. So, I jumped. And when I came up for air, the realization that the drain was not going to get me, made me free. My hope is that anyone who reads this book will find their inner strength and be able to face whatever fear is in front of them.
For Families
Ellie’s Newest Book is Available
Book Signings
Check back for upcoming book signing dates in your community
Location
Past Events
Launch Party Event 1
Saturday, June 3, 2023 10:30AM
Celebrate Ellie’s newest book release at Redlands’ beloved family owned children’s bookstore. Enjoy a storytime read by Ellie then have your book signed. Pre-order your copies to guarantee book availability.
Location
Launch Party Event 2
Sunday, June 4, 2023
Book Reading 10:15AM
Reception & Book Signing 11:30AM
The First Baptist Church of Redlands will host Ellie’s newest book release. Enjoy a storytime read by Ellie in the service then have your book signed afterwards. Pre-order your copies to guarantee book availability. Light refreshments served.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
What themes does this book explore?
Into the Blue dives into Social-Emotional themes of courage and overcoming one’s fears. There are deeper layers to this story that respects the reader’s intelligence and reveal the inner struggle of humanity. Our imaginary fears often create a paralyzing effect that prevents us from living fully and joyfully and appreciating the goodness around us that can be plain, good old-fashioned fun–in this case, going swimming.
What kind of problem does your book address and what solutions does it offer?
Social-Emotional Learning is a vital focus in schools. Learning self-awareness and using positive self-talk are a couple of strategies to help children become aware of their feelings and have emotional intelligence. Identifying emotions and expressing them are part of everyday life and important to our growth and understanding of others around us. The problem in Into the Blue centers around facing one’s fears. The story dives into the theme of courage and perseverance as one overcomes and trusts that all will be well.
What do you hope readers will discover from your book?
The character in this story is filled with fears, yet gathers up enough strength to make a decision that changes her life. Whether the power to jump in is through inner determination or possibly from by a divine source, or a mixture of sources (that do not need to be clearly named, and is left for the reader to determine), the girl finds in the end that regardless of the drain at the bottom of the pool, without choosing to be brave, she would have missed out on the joy of swimming had she not jumped in.
The girl has more courage than most of us possess. We are accustomed to only pursuing what is comfortable. We often avoid life (i.e neighborhoods, communities, people, jobs, projects, books, food, conversations, stores, teams, and even opportunities for fun) that we believe are uncomfortable without ever attempting to even see what could be. What a potentially joyless and limiting life!
However, we have a choice to be brave and enter into the vast blue waters, although incorrectly or possibly irrationally conceived with dangers. The girl dares to jump in, enjoy the refreshing waters, and come up for air without being engulfed. The hope is for humanity to see that it is possible to live life fully and joyfully when we cease to allow our fears to dictate the decisions that we know are right, rational, and most of all, fun!
People of all colors and clans throughout the world can embrace this story of a child garnering the courage to jump into the waters in the midst of fearing the imaginary drain lurking at the bottom. This story of learning the difference between believing something and believing in something will empower all children who face fear in its many forms to discover the courage they have within themselves and persevere to overcome those fears, live in the light, and choose to be brave.
How did you come to write this book?
Memorial Day Weekend, 2021, I sat down to sketch and instead wrote a poem about a childhood memory- learning to swim. Later that night I revised and tweaked a line here, a word there, and Into the Blue was born. This story is part memory and part discovery. Memory lends its emotional resonance, while this anthem of courage sings of the hope and strength that you discover when you look inside yourself and that small spark of light grows into a beam shining on a new way of seeing, feeling, and being.
What did you discover when writing this book?
I have always been a poet. I have written many stories for children that follow the traditional story arc, however, this story flowed from my poet’s heart. The style is very much like swimming through the water- a pull and glide and breath, the ebb and flow, and the places your mind goes while allowing your muscle memory to do its job. In this story, the young child allows her imagination to run away from her but then decides to change how she sees the blue world in front of her. Imagination is key to opening what is really inside you and figuring out solutions to the problems before you. Strength comes from being aware, having the ability to adapt, and realizing how capable you are.
– short bio
Ellie Huynh, a long-time kindergarten teacher, writes poetry and children’s books. Her picture book Into the Blue will be released in Spring 2023.
Into the blue (Books)
- Photo lay
- Description of the book:
The drain at the bottom of the pool can swallow you up–at least that is what a small girl believes as she is learning to jump off the diving board. However, believing something and believing in something are two different things. The girl must decide what she thinks to be true to take the plunge into the blue.
- Buy button
- Inspiration (Why I wrote this ):
The inspiration for this story comes from a childhood memory. When I was four years old, I was terrified of the drain at the bottom of the swimming pool. I truly thought it was going to swallow me up if I came anywhere near it. So, I developed strategies to bypass the drain – swimming around it, diving over it, splashing objects in the water to create the illusion that it had disappeared—finally, I chose to be brave, because I knew I had to be, the drain was not going away. So, I jumped. And when I came up for air, the realization that the drain was not going to get me, made me free. My hope is that anyone who reads this book will find their inner strength and be able to face whatever fear is in front of them.
If you would like to learn more about the themes and discoveries Into the Blue explores, please check out Frequently Asked Questions.
/media kit Q&A:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Into the Blue
What themes does this book explore?
Into the Blue dives into Social-Emotional themes of courage and overcoming one’s fears. There are deeper layers to this story that respects the reader’s intelligence and reveal the inner struggle of humanity. Our imaginary fears often create a paralyzing effect that prevents us from living fully and joyfully and appreciating the goodness around us that can be plain, good old-fashioned fun–in this case, going swimming.
What kind of problem does your book address and what solutions does it offer?
Social-Emotional Learning is a vital focus in schools. Learning self-awareness and using positive self-talk are a couple of strategies to help children become aware of their feelings and have emotional intelligence. Identifying emotions and expressing them are part of everyday life and important to our growth and understanding of others around us. The problem in Into the Blue centers around facing one’s fears. The story dives into the theme of courage and perseverance as one overcomes and trusts that all will be well.
What do you hope readers will discover from your book?
The character in this story is filled with fears, yet gathers up enough strength to make a decision that changes her life. Whether the power to jump in is through inner determination or possibly from by a divine source, or a mixture of sources (that do not need to be clearly named, and is left for the reader to determine), the girl finds in the end that regardless of the drain at the bottom of the pool, without choosing to be brave, she would have missed out on the joy of swimming had she not jumped in.
The girl has more courage than most of us possess. We are accustomed to only pursuing what is comfortable. We often avoid life (i.e neighborhoods, communities, people, jobs, projects, books, food, conversations, stores, teams, and even opportunities for fun) that we believe are uncomfortable without ever attempting to even see what could be. What a potentially joyless and limiting life!
However, we have a choice to be brave and enter into the vast blue waters, although incorrectly or possibly irrationally conceived with dangers. The girl dares to jump in, enjoy the refreshing waters, and come up for air without being engulfed. The hope is for humanity to see that it is possible to live life fully and joyfully when we cease to allow our fears to dictate the decisions that we know are right, rational, and most of all, fun!
People of all colors and clans throughout the world can embrace this story of a child garnering the courage to jump into the waters in the midst of fearing the imaginary drain lurking at the bottom. This story of learning the difference between believing something and believing in something will empower all children who face fear in its many forms to discover the courage they have within themselves and persevere to overcome those fears, live in the light, and choose to be brave.
How did you come to write this book?
Memorial Day Weekend, 2021, I sat down to sketch and instead wrote a poem about a childhood memory- learning to swim. Later that night I revised and tweaked a line here, a word there, and Into the Blue was born. This story is part memory and part discovery. Memory lends its emotional resonance, while this anthem of courage sings of the hope and strength that you discover when you look inside yourself and that small spark of light grows into a beam shining on a new way of seeing, feeling, and being.
What did you discover when writing this book?
I have always been a poet. I have written many stories for children that follow the traditional story arc, however, this story flowed from my poet’s heart. The style is very much like swimming through the water- a pull and glide and breath, the ebb and flow, and the places your mind goes while allowing your muscle memory to do its job. In this story, the young child allows her imagination to run away from her but then decides to change how she sees the blue world in front of her. Imagination is key to opening what is really inside you and figuring out solutions to the problems before you. Strength comes from being aware, having the ability to adapt, and realizing how capable you are.
– short bio
Ellie Huynh, a long-time kindergarten teacher, writes poetry and children’s books. Her picture book Into the Blue will be released in Spring 2023.
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