I’ve been painting lots of butterfly paintings this year. I noticed the children like to look at the big visuals while I am reading my newest storybook “Butterfly Dreams, A Friendship Takes Flight” etaliapress.com
Most often lately someone will buy the paintings on the spot. I love that. Also my paintings have become larger.
Children’s Storybook “Butterfly Dreams, A Friendship Takes Flight.” for children ages 3-12. Available through etaliapress.com
My Youtube channel is fun for kids to watch Carol Dabney DabOhana. Stories and Songs. Please subscribe and share.
Storybooks are great gifts for birthdays or Christmas. There are also audiobooks with original songs for the stories. Request details by emailing carol.dabney@yahoo.com
My scripture art has been a big hit. I will custom your butterfly art with your favorite verse.
My students have a lot of fun with this story about an elephant family that is following God through Africa all the way to Noah’s Ark. Audiobook and music available through Amazon or emailing me.
Christmas Stories and Songs is our latest audiobook and in time for Christmas deliveries. 4 stories and songs.
Do you like to golf. Here is a fun story for kids.
Meet the authors Carol Dabney and Rod Ragsdale. see us on our YouTube channel DabOhana.
Butterfly art
Bigger Butterfly paintings
The Happy Pumpkin Story and Song is good for Halloween, Harvest and Thanksgiving.
Music for kids by the authors
Twas The Mouse Before Christmas is our best seller. A wonderfully fun story for the whole family. Available through my email.
Thanks you all for your continued support in our stories and songs. -Have a blessed Thanksgiving.
Its important for teachers to be creative for their students during the Corona-virus pandemic. Wearing a mask all day has been a challenge. My thoughts about wearing them are that doctors and nurses wear them because it keeps them and their patients safe. If they can do this, so can I as a teacher. Do I like wearing a mask? No, not at all. But in fact because I am a music teacher I not only wear a cloth mask, but also a face shield. It makes me feel trapped. It’s hard to breath and talk and sing. I do so hoping that this has helped me stay healthy and safe so I can continue doing what I love, which is teaching children. I think its working.
I am among the more fortunate ones during this Covid crisis, in that the school where I work has been completely operational since September with only a few interruptions. I think we are having success because we can keep our classes small, to about ten students per classroom. We keep our classes separated for the most part all day. We play outside whenever possible. Our students do not wear masks, however our all teachers do. We also have spray sanitizers we use every day.
In my music room I have a box of instruments for each class so no one touches another classes items. Then they are sprayed at the end of each day so another class can use. I prepare music that some can use tambourines and drums or ukuleles, maracas and bells.
When it comes to teaching music to children you have to be highly creative to hold their interest. I utilize puppets that tell stories to introduce new songs. I think the children enjoy looking at colorful paintings while they are learning the words and meanings to other music. Of course they always like marching with flags while singing our patriotic numbers or wearing butterfly wings while dancing.
Me wearing a mask and a face shield at my school. My sister, who is a military nurse made a dozen different masks for me. This one is because I wrote a children’s storybook called “Butterfly Dreams, a Friendship Takes Flight” it is published by Et Alia Press if you want to take a look at my children’s story and art. https://www.etaliapress.com/authors#/carol-dabney/
When the pandemic first happened, all school shut down. March 12 is a day I will always remember. I was at the Children’s library in Little Rock and my publisher Erin Wood and I were there going over what was going to be a big author and book release party to happen in April. I was so excited. I had written several books before, but this one was special because I now had a publisher and this book showed off my art and the editing was wonderful. But as you know the world shut down. The big readings at libraries and bookstores would have to be put all hold.
We had to once again be creative. So we turned to multimedia. I starting reading my story to libraries online through Zoom, Facetime and Youtube. I created my own Youtube channel and started singing and reading lots of my stories. You can find me at Dabohana on Youtube. All summer long along with my music partner Rod Ragsdale we stay home in our little apt and made lots of videos for children on Youtube. We used themed shower curtains as backdrops and made out own little video production studio. Check out the fun. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDluLLAyEJVzyrsCelEjvDw
I had tea parties zoomed to my grandchildren and small children’s groups.
Rod and I had a blast. We hope you will go to our Dabohana Youtube and subscribe. Share and little little ones watch our fun music videos.
Story time with bible valuespuppets and songs and imaginary trips to Hawaii Farm animal songs and real trips out in the countrySharing my art from my balcony in the summer.In the winter I even started teaching beginner piano from my room. Virtual Piano lessons are not easy, but we found a way. Rod and I Serenading on the balconyHaving fun during a time of isolation and sharing music, art and stories helped keep us sane during the Coriv-19 pandemic. We also hoped that we entertained a few families along the way.
Stay safe. Be creative. Love from our little place to yours. -Rod and Carol
Believe! Â watercolor art by Carol Dabney from the book Pablo, The Donkey Used By God, a bible series for children created by attorney Everett O. Martindale and co-authored by Dabney, called the Animals Used By God.
Pablo is bullied by the other animals. He is not as fast as the horses, can not produce eggs like the chickens, milk like the cows, or wool like the sheep. He is simply small and humble. Â Yet, it is the small and humble donkey that is chosen to carry a young pregnant girl named Mary into Bethlehem, and some years later it is a small and humble set of donkeys chosen to carry Mary’s son, Jesus into Jerusalem.
Through The Looking Glass with Kinia. She will be interviewing Carol Dabney about children’s book Saturday March 7, at 7pm Eastern time out of Atlanta.
Kinia and her radio program Through the Looking Glass will be talking with Carol Dabney
Radio interview with Carol Dabney by Kinia Colbert out of Atlanta Through The Looking Glass Saturday night program March 7, 2015 at 7 Eastern time
Growing Bows and Butterflies – new 2015 children’s story book about butterflies by Carol Dabney
Why WE Walk written to help children understand the Alzheimer’s Disease by Carol Dabney… New book 2015…
author, illustrator and composer Carol Dabney
I am so excited to be as to a guest on Through The Looking Glass radio show this coming Saturday night with Kinia Colbert. I have some new children’s books in the works: “Growing Bows and Butterflies” about a caterpillar named Carlos who has lots of personality and big dreams. We watch Carlos go through the many stages of a butterfly’s life from egg to the beautiful winged creature migrating to Mexico for the winter. This story has a wonderful song that goes with it, written by wordsmith Donna Watkins and composer Rod Ragsdale called “On The Wings Of Dreams” We have all become a team this past year working on several stories about winged creatures such as honeybees, birds and butterflies.
Also new this Spring is “Why We Walk” a book for young children to help them understand the Alzheimer’s Disease. Many of my stories are bilingual translated by Cindy Reyes, which adds an enriching cultural experience to young children. We read all fall and straight through Christmas all around the Little Rock area and the children enjoyed our interactive programs which now has stuffed animals and puppets and of course music.
With Spanish teacher Cindy Reyes
I am very excited to be working at Blue Chair Recording Studio with musician Rod Ragsdale who has helped composed several songs for our Animals Used By God Series created by Everett O. Martindale and myself. These books will be audiobooks with songs. Rod adds guitar and harmonica as well as vocals to our presentations.
musician Rod Ragsdale
with Musician Rod Ragsdale
One of our most exciting events was presenting Christmas music and Twas The Mouse before Christmas at the Arkansas State Capital at their annual Christmas Tree Lighting in December.
With Spanish teacher Cindy Reyes
Twas The Mouse Before Christmas
Events coming up is a children’s writers workshop at the children’s library Monday afternoon March 23.
Saturday March 28 is the Central Arkansas Fiction Writers meeting. Other authors such as Heather Sutherlin and others in this writers group have pulled together sharing ideas and helping each other. I love Indie Publishers writers and illustrators.
Saturday April 11 we will be presenting a story and song for the Junior League Little Readers Rocks at the Children’s Library.
I will be attending the Craighead County Author Fair in Jonesboro April 18 and NEA Writers meeting with Linda Nance and Donna Watkins. So many people helped me learn along the way.
St Paul Public Library has invited me to read for their summer reading program June 13.
and a Meet the Author event Saturday June 20 at the Hillary Clinton Children’s Library in Little Rock
I received a contract from Mockingbird Lane Press this week, to look over for them to become my publishers, for my father’s biography “Dance Me Home.” It was endorsed by the Alzheimer’s Association last year and featured in Senior Moments Magazine. Editor Dustin Hood introduced me at a Barnes and Nobles meet the author event last August.
Northeast Arkansas Writers Linda Nance and Donna Watkins supportive writers at Barnes and Nobles meet the author event hosted by editor Dustin Hood Senior Moment magazine
I illustrated pictured for children’s author Dale Black for his Amanda Adventures and then Donna Watkins asked me to illustrate for honeybee book while we were recording the song for her project. I love illustrating for my author friends. I have a fun time getting to know the characters to their stories this way. They become apart of me. I have cute little bees and butterflies and a bunch of stuffed animals that go with my stories all over my apt. It makes my life colorful.
We loved reading for school assemblies
I returned from my trip to Hawaii in August. I Read for the military children at Schofield Barracks and Sgt Yano Library on base and then at the Amador County Library “Paws To Read” summer reading program in California on my journey home. Great trip. My family sisters and children have been such an inspiration to me and helped me with photography and promotions and editing and losing weight. Hugs to you all. My daughter was deployed and I brought back and kept her two year old daughter Aliyah Jane while she was gone overseas for 3 months. What a kick that girl is!!! That’s when I began writing those stories about a little girl named Jane in the storybook “Growing Bows” All those adorable girls at school wearing huge bows in their hair. Southern Bells who wear bows. I could not resist a story.
Hula and song at Amador County Library Califonia
My grand daughter Aliyah Jane and I at St Mark’s School where I teach music
hula is for everyone
Cindy, Rod and I had a few birthday parties and luaus along the way as well and a couple more recording sessions to finish our work for Spring. Everett is still coming up with animals. Rod is a sweetheart and has some great ideas of his own that we have started putting together. More to share later. The end of 2014 and beginning of 2015 has been an exciting time so far and now looking forward to my interview with Kinia.
Authors Carol Dabney and Cindy Reyes read with much laughter at schools: Don Roberts, North Heights, Brady and Bryant, Arkansas. From Private parties to the Arkansas State Capital the sisters are reading with holiday cheer about Harold a little mouse who bakes the first cookies left out for Santa on Christmas Eve. The beginning of a fun family tradition stated with a little mouse who is excited about Christmas. The book includes a cookie recipe and a Christmas song penned by Dabney “Christmas in your Heart.”
The sisters will be presenting the bedtime story book at the Hillary Clinton Children’s Library and Learning Center Saturday December 13 at 10am, and again that same day at the Knowledge Tree Store on University Avenue at 2pm. Carol will bring her ukulele and Christmas carols will sure to bring smiles to the children.
Cindy is a retired Little Rock Spanish teacher and the book includes the Spanish as well as the English. Cindy is the mother of three and has six grand children. Carol is the music teacher at St Mark’s Day School and is the mother of five and grandmother of soon to be three grandchildren.
The storybook is available on http://www.amazon.com type in Carol Dabney or Twas the Mouse Before Christmas or just click on picture below:
Arkansas State Capital reading presentation annual Christmas Tree Lighting Dec 6, 2014
Carol Dabney and Cindy Reyes reading Twas the Mouse Before Christmas in English and Spanish. Book and Mouse available at the capital gift shop in Little Rock till Dec 17, 2014
Children’s author Carol Dabney and Cindy Reyes who also included the Spanish translation of this Christmas story are most excited to be reading at the Arkansas State Capital in Little Rock for the Christmas Tree Lighting Saturday December 6 at 6pm. Santa will be visiting and there will be Christmas caroling along with Rod Ragsdale and his singing harmonica. What a fun event that has been added to the annual festivities. The books will be available if anyone would like it autographed by the authors. There is a cookie recipe and Christmas song you will enjoy as a family.
Christmas story book for children Twas The Mouse Before Christmas
Twas The Mouse before Christmas is a children’s story book illustrated by the author Carol Dabney. Also has the Spanish translation by Cindy Reyes. If you are not in the area and want to take a look at the book. click on picture below or go to http://www.amazon.com and type in Carol Dabney. Thank you for your support.
Story Time for young children
Dec 6 Arkansas State Capital. 6pm Christmas Tree Lighting, readings at 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00pm
Dec 13 Hilary Clinton Children’s Library 10am to 10:45am
Dec 13 The Knowledge Tree Store 2pm- 2:45pm
Children’s books The Happy Pumpkin, Patch and Growing Bows
Arkansas Cotton Festival at Scott’s Plantation Saturday Oct 4 all day event. Hay rides, baked goods, pumpkins, BBQ, live music and more. Pioneer atmosphere.
Children’s author Carol Dabney
Introducing new story, Growing Bows. A chapter book for young children who love to be read to.
Singer – author Carol Dabney visits schools in the Hawaiian Islands from Jan to march 2013 to present her Patriotic program and share a preview of her new holiday books coming this fall. Students at Hale Kula Army Barracks and Stg Yano Library children’s story hour, Kaumana Keikiland, and Ewa Beach Elementary’s Read Aloud America all enjoyed Harold the Christmas Mouse in “Twas The Mouse Before Christmas” “The Happy Pumpkin, Patch” and “Military Mommy” (pictures provided with permission
Author and singer Carol Dabney reads for Army families in Hawaii March 2013
Author Carol Dabney reads her new bedtime storybook “Twas The Mouse before Christmas” for a classroom at Hale Kula in Feb (6 months before it’s launch date) and introduces Harold, the adorable mouse who stars in the book. He was a big hit with the kids.
Students meet Harold, author Carol Dabney’s Christmas Mouse in her new bedtime Christmas book, “Twas The Mouse Before Christmas”. Learning about writing and illustrations.
Author and singer Carol Dabney using her ukulele to sing “Imagine That America” and a few other fun songs for students at hale kula school March 2013
Lt Melissa Dabney when she was just a cadet graduating from bootcamp in 2006. Her son, Noah came to help her celebrate and show her that he was walking.
Another Military Mommy stops by at the school to pick up her children and enjoys reading Military Mommy
Author Carol Dabney read to students at Schofield Army Barracks about her grandson Noah, who now attends Hale Kula, about his own true story “Military Mommy”
Thanksgiving holiday bedtime story by author illustrator Carol Dabney for elementary school age children. The Happy Pumpkin, Patch about sharing… to be published this fall. Shared a preview with classes at Hale Kula classes.
Learning sign-language to God Bless America
Janet, Hale Kula Librian. Love this wonderful lady. She became my good friend and had a hand in helping me produce “The Happy Pumpkin, Patch” Jan-March 2013
Playing ukulele at Hale Kula School
“Christmas In Your Heart” song produced in the Hawaiian Islands. Composer and Recording Artist Carol Dabney, arranged by Alwyn Erub. on the Picture of You album. available at https://www.amazon.com/author/dabneycdbooks and CdBaby.com
From Janurary through the month of March 2013 I read from classroom to classroom in the Hawaiian Islands. Hale Kula at Schofield Army base in Oahu, and Kaumana Keikiland in Hilo. I read with the Read Aloud America program at Ewa Beach Elementary.
I wanted to thank all the teachers for asking me to read for their classrooms. Thank you also to all the children who wrote cards of thanks to me along with their own artwork.
Every classroom has their own personality set mostly by the teacher in the way she helps her students learn, enjoy and deals with discipline. It’s not easy being a teacher. I know I have been a sub teacher and a resource teacher for over 20 years. Oh the things that can happen when you enter the world of children. I read and I sing a veteran song on my ukulele and show them how to do sign language to “God Bless America”.
I presented my story of Military Mommy at the Army base at Hale Kula school and shared about my grandson Noah and his mom and what its like to be a military family. Of course no child at Hale Kula is a stranger to military life. Some of them have moms, some have dads and yet others have both parents in the military. I express how important the children of military families are. The sacrifice and committment to their American Soldier is their contribution to our country, and they should be proud. The book Military Mommy is about my daughter LT Melissa Dabney and her son. It begins when she leaves for bootcamp at Fort Jackson South Carolina in the summer of 2006. I sent her a picture of Noah every day for 12 weeks. She missed his first steps and his first birthday. Sacrifice, its a big part of an American Soldiers life, as well as their families. The cover photo is of Cadet Melissa Dabney graduating from bootcamp and her getting to see Noah walk for the first time. Then she headed off to AIT for 27 more weeks. At the end of that she returned to Arkansas and finished college, graduating and commissioned a second lieutenant. Then she Noah and I headed off to their first duty station in Hawaii.
I have to say a high praise to the transitional teacher Kelley Jeans and other transitional counselors for helping Noah cope with all the changes of moving from his southern roots to the Pacific Islands. They help children on a daily bases who are coming into the base. With the military, the kids are moving around alot, and it’s tough. Noah and I walked 30 minutes to school every day and walked past Army tanks at the Tropical Lighting Museum, as well as soldiers marching in Army gear. We created the Military Mommy story together on those walks. I read at the schools about Noah, at the end they will often asked, “Where is Noah now?” well he is in second grade at Hale Kula. Because of those questions I wrote a series called “The Adventures of Noah” Cadet Dabney has been LT Dabney and working as rear support for the unit while they went Afghanistan. Soon Melissa will be captain and she and Noah will be moving to their next duty station.
I got alot of great advise from Hale Kula’s librarian Janet. She and I just hit it off and she suggested a smaller chapter book size for my newest holiday Thanksgiving bedtime story book “The Happy Pumpkin, Patch”
I brought my little Christmas mouse into the classrooms to showed the children my Christmas book “Twas The Mouse Before Christmas” Harold was a hit! In Fact the children asked me to read it, so I previewed the story in Feb (6 months before the launch date) Imagine that, Christmas in Feb. it was fun for all. The kids loved touching Harold and taking pictures wuth Harold too. When I left I received mail asking me, “How is Harold doing?”
Harold came to me at my sister’s cabin in Northern California during Christmas time and he was sitting next to my bed stand when I woke up one morning. It was snowing outside my window and it was magical. My sister barbara and I helped Harold bake the chocolate chip cookie recipe that is in the back of the book and I must say they turned out delicious. The book is bilingual written in Spanish, translated by my sister in law Cindy Reyes. The book also has a wonderfully fun original Christmas song I released several years ago. The song “Christmas in your Heart” is doing well in Europe and plays in Germany all year round. It’s very exciting.
I retunred back to the studio in Honolulu to record audiobooks of my Christmas bedtime storybook with old friend arranger Alwyn Erub, who will be the musician and engineer on the project.
Children’s picture poetry book about military life
Thanksgiving story for children
children’s adventure book
children’s adventure book
children’s adventure book
children’s book
Biography military love story for adults
Noah on the farm
Reading for children is one of the most rewarding things in the world. They love to be read to. They love new books. I enjoy their questions and comments about books I am in the process of writting and have added many times because of their imput. I hope the books I write and will write and read for children will be enjoyed for a long time to come. I hope my books teach children in a fun way all about nature, sceince, history, fantasy, adventure and faith. I hope I inspire parents to continue an age old tradition of reading bedtime stories to they children every night, and that my stories are included and that mine are among the ones that children ask for again and again. I am working on The Animals Used By God book series. I am the illustrator and co-author and also planning to have audiobooks with music for preschoolers to enjoy. I will have many other surprise details about these faith-based stories soon. I am truly excited about them and I know young readers will be inspired by their message. From my house to yours, may God shine upon you today -Carol Dabney
caroldabney 