Dawn Doig
Children's Picture Book Author
Paying It Forward One Book at a Time
Pay It Forward
Imagine living in the deteriorating buildings of an old chicken farm. Imagine attending school in classrooms created in the delapidated rooms of an old poultry factory. This is the reality for the deaf children who currently live and go to school at CAESEDA Centre d’Acceuil et d’Education Specialisee des Enfants Deficients Auditifs Nkolmebanga, located approximately 80 km outside Yaoundé, Cameroon. These children need a safe, secure, and comfortable place to live and
go to school.
It is a difficult life for many children living in Cameroon, but those who are deaf face additional challenges in trying to secure a future with any sense of independence. Sister Simone, a Catholic nun who currently runs the the school for the deaf/orphanage, has been given land by the Cameroonian government, but she does not have the necessary funds to build the new facility. Sister Simone also has a well designed project already prepared which clearly outlines five distinct modules: dormitories and classrooms, dining area, medical clinic, and training center, administration. The entire project will cost almost 2 million US dollars to complete. For now, it would be wonderful to at least complete Module 1 so the children have decent living quarters and decent classrooms.
As the author of 15 children's picture books, I am in a position to try to make a difference in the life of these special children. If you are looking for a new book to share with that special little someone in your life, please consider purchasing one of my picture books. All proceeds go towards helping to build the new school for the deaf/orphanage in Cameroon. Spread some kindness today and help brighten someone's world.
E El Gi Piddr
'It Will Get Better'
Petra Pencil Pines for Pizza
What a Bath!
Waddy and the Worry Wakes
And So, Ahmed Hears
(English Version)
Kydee
Go Away, Shawn!
And So,Ahmed Hears
(Mongolian Version)
Melvin Fastidious the Sailor
BOOKS
In late 2017, I decided to take the plunge and try once again to get my books published. It was then that I discovered Pen It! Publications (https://www.penitpublications.com/shop) and a whirlwind year of having children's picture books published or republished began. Pen It! Publications believed in my stories and now they are available in print for all to enjoy. Seeing so many of my books in print is truly a childhood dream come true. From winning local newspaper Christmas story contests as a child to penning my first novel, 'The Miracle Chimp', when I was 13 years old, I always dreamed of one day being a published author. Nothing excites me more than to be able to share my stories. The inspiration for my stories comes from my own experiences, the people I meet, the amazing children I have the pleasure to work with, and the many feline friends I hold dear in my heart. I hope you enjoy reading my stories as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
E El Gi Piddr
'It Will Get Better'
Petra Pencil Pines for Pizza
What a Bath!
Waddy and the Worry Wakes
And So, Ahmed Hears
(English Version)
Kydee
Go Away, Shawn!
And So,Ahmed Hears
(Mongolian Version)
Melvin Fastidious the Sailor
Big Noses Are Beautiful!
Mixed Link Purchase Links for All Books
- Purchase is as easy as a CLICK! -
Click on the cover of the book to access the link.
Big Shoe Bears and Friends
EXCITED to ANNOUNCE: There are now six books in the Big Shoe Bears and Friends series. Three are currently available in English and French, including two that are bilingual. The bilingual books are available in English/French and English/Spanish! Join the Big Shoe Bears and their friends for some exciting adventures and bake up a storm with Lulubelle!
Sweet Note: Thanks to Mr. Garth Vance, the bilingual books are also available on a bilingual children's book website. There are oodles of books on this site in a variety of languages. CLICK on the ice cream to check it out:-)
Reviews
"Petra the Pencil Pines for Pizza is written in a light-hearted manner that easily captures reader's interest, to keep turning its pages. Well-worded, glossy, and beautifully illustrated, Petra the Pencil Pines for Pizza connects strongly with readers of all ages, though it is purposefully written for children. Doig's story is driven by her cool choice of words, making Petra the Pencil speak and sound just like a small child. The book’s size is just right for the little, exquisite hands of eager readers.
And who wouldn’t pine for pizza? I, for one, couldn’t resist two slices or three of a four-cheese special! Eating pizza was a good move by Petra the Pencil because it let her gain a few more centimetres, as she swelled in diameter. That was a serendipitous and happy occasion for the boy who picked up the upsized Petra the Pencil. Petra the Pencil’s more rounded shape helped the boy acquire a legible handwriting because he was now able to grasp the pencil in a proper way.
Doig’s picture book highlighted and captured one of the challenges that some children face when they enter school: learning proper pencil grips."
Greca Durant,
Elementary School PYP Teacher
Petra Pencil Pines for Pizza Review Rating: 5 Stars
My youngest son is somewhat of a reluctant reader so this was a top choice for encouraging him to pick up a pencil and have a go. The main character is a pencil and very likeable - plus she loves pizza just like my son! The book is perhaps slightly too long for younger readers but a good fit for school-age children. It also helps reinforce that all children can write and that perhaps they need to find the right pencil to fit them - once my son understood this he was keen to try all the pencils to find the one he thought would help him.
Cora Lydon
Amazon Customer
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Review Rating: 5 Stars - Congratulations on your 5-star review! 'Go Away, Shawn!'
Shawn was mischievous and he always played pranks on his brother and sister. They couldn't wait for him to leave the house. He would change the channel when they watched TV, yank the remote out of their hands, and scare and threaten them. He was smart and always wore the designer kind of ripped jeans with pride. He flipped through the channels as if he was the king of the T.V. Kingdom with his feet on top of the coffee table. They yelled, 'Go away, Shawn!' all the time. Things changed when he actually did go away. Shawn had an accident and it has been four years since he has even spoken a word. His family never actually wished for him to go away like this. Written from the perspective of Shawn's sister, the story gives readers glimpses of how exactly Shawn was and how he ended up being silent.
Go Away, Shawn! by Dawn Doig is the heartrending story of Shawn who has been in a vegetative state after an accident and, instead of always wishing him to go away like before, his sister keeps wishing for him to come back. The illustrations capture the mood of the story and characters and give glimpses of Shawn's bullying behavior. The story also brings out his gentle and kind side in many places. It's a beautiful story of love and forgiveness and will bring tears to the eyes of readers. The story connects with all readers who are grieving and who have experienced the loss of a loved one.
Mamta Madhavan,
Readers’ Favorite
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Review Rating: 5 Stars - Congratulations on your 5-star review! 'E El gi Piddr'
Anand went down the stairs, dragging his backpack. He wiped his eyes and let out a groggy yawn as he made his way to the kitchen for his breakfast. He was grumpy as he climbed onto the chair for breakfast and his mother reminded him that the sun was out and it was a new day. After having his breakfast, Anand took his bag, opened the door, and walked down the sidewalk. He got onto the bus and took a seat in the front. It was just like any other day. He waited for the other kids to get down before he stepped down. Anand could not understand a thing that was taught in class. His favorite period was PE. When he got home he told his mother that he was the only student who did not speak English. Will Anand be able to learn the language and speak English like the other kids in the class?
E El Gi Pidr: It Will Get Better by Dawn Doig is a heartwarming story that will connect with many young readers, especially the ones who move to new places and new schools where they are attending English-speaking schools for the first time. The illustrations are lively and colorful and they make the story palpable to young readers and help them connect better with Anand's feelings while being in an English-speaking school. Anand's experience is scary at first and, as the story progresses, readers see how he gradually starts to learn the language with the help of teachers. It is a good book for storytelling sessions at homes and in classrooms where there are children who are not comfortable speaking English. Anand's story will encourage them and give them the confidence that they will be able to learn the language with the help of teachers in their school.
Mamta Madhavan,
Readers’ Favorite
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5 Stars - Congratulations on your 5-star review! 'Petra Pencil Pines for Pizza'
Petra Pencil dreamed of drawing and she was jealous of watching the other pencils go off for the day. Petra Pencil imagined the wonderful things she could draw if given a chance. She wanted to draw a pizza that was perfectly round, beautiful, and awesome. Prudence was always the first one to be picked up and Peter was next. Petra wondered why she was always the one left behind. She was brand new and her tip was always sharp and ready to go. She thought the tiny splinter she had on her side was the biggest problem. She tried to get rid of it many times but all her attempts were useless. One Monday she landed on the floor and got a chance to make contact with the paper. She drew her favorite pizza and by the time she finished she had become plump. She did not know what to do but then a new student, Jordan, joined the class and things changed for Petra Pencil.
Petra Pencil Pines for Pizza by Dawn Doig is an adorable and simple story that tells young readers there is a place for everyone, irrespective of their size, shape, and color. The special bond between Jordan and Petra Pencil is palpable to readers through the story and the illustrations. The illustrations are bright and colorful and breathe life into the characters and the story. It is fun to see the pencils having a name and a personality of their own. The story is also for children who have a problem when it comes to holding a pencil and writing neatly. Children will love the book and both parents and tutors can use it for read-aloud and storytelling sessions at home and in classrooms and school libraries to help youngsters address challenges with a positive outlook.
Mamta Madhavan,
Readers’ Favorite
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Amazon 5-star Review Nice book. April 5, 2019
'Go Away, Shawn!'
Vivid illustration colors, drawings were obviously from a talented artist. good content and storyline.
pegaso94
Amazon
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'Kydee' 5-Star Review
Kydee by Dawn Doig, with color illustrations by Savannah Horton, is a picture book about a kitten found shivering on a busy street in freezing winter weather. Kydee is only eight weeks old. She’s lost, scared, shivering in the cold, and wondering if her mother will ever find her. Fortunately, a kind person hears her mewing, picks her up, and takes her home. Kydee’s life takes a wonderful turn. She’s warm, snuggled and hugged. She plays with bouncing balls and feather toys, pounces on an older cat in the home, and chases the red dot of a laser pointer. After a long and happy day of kitten play, Kydee falls asleep with wonderful dreams in her head, safe and loved at last.
Dawn Doig gives us a charming story that young children will certainly enjoy. Who could resist such a cute kitten as Kydee? She purrs and licks, runs and jumps, hops and pounces, and chases and climbs her way into the reader’s heart. Written mostly in rhyme and beautifully illustrated, the story teaches both the concept of humane care and kindness to animals, especially those lost or abandoned, and the emotional reward of pet companions in our lives. The rhyming contains fun and silly phrases, such as Bipple-Bopple-Boop, Flipple-Flopple-Floop, and Flicky-Flacky-Flout, which children will enjoy mimicking and repeating. The presence of the older cat, Old Mama Yafa-Fluff, lets us know that this new home is pet-friendly and that little Kydee will have a cat companion as well as a human one. A fun read.
Kimberlee J Benart
Readers' Favorite
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Hair Peace 5.0 out of 5 stars (Amazon) Beautiful
Reviewed in Canada on May 25, 2020:
A wonderful story about a girl that is not happy with her hair, and discovers a way to have hair just like the others.
It's not long before she comes across a young girl who doesn't have the same options as she does, and finally accepts herself as she , as that is more important than hair. A great lesson for kids to be grateful for what they have and to love themselves as they are. Very inspiring.
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Hair Peace 5.0 out of 5 stars (Amazon) Love, Hair, and Happiness
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2020:
This book should belong to every young lady that is struggling with self esteem. Relationship and love Is expressed between two young ladies that discover hidden insecurities they have in common and learned how to empower each other by recognizing each other’s self worth. Super good job.
International Orders
Most of my books are available internationally through Amazon. It's as easy as a click! In the table below, find the country name at the top of the column. Click on the BUY NOW tab for the particular book under the respective country heading. You will then be redirected to the web page for that specific book on the country's Amazon website. NOTE: The table scrolls to the right to reveal more countries.
For those with a preference, please check out the listings on Follett Titlewave, Ingram, Booktopia, or Indigo Canada.
All of my books are also available with free international shipping through the Book Depository and Wordery:
Happy reading!
New Look!
Whaaat? (formerly 'E El Gi Piddr') Celebrate the challenges and successes of a young child trying to understand a new language in a new country.
Imagine having to learn a new language in a new school and in a new country. This is the reality for many children globally in our very mobile world as they become bilingual, trilingual or even multilingual.
Anand is a little Mongolian boy who is attending an English-speaking school for the first time. What a scary experience! And why does he always hear people says, "E el gi piddr"? What does that mean? With time, practice, and support from his caring teachers, Anand gradually learns the language and he finally understands what they have been saying all along. "Whaaat?" gives children the opportunity to try to understand the challenges and successes some of their classmates face when immersed in a new culture and a new language. Through the experiences of Anand, children can see the value of compassion and learn to appreciate the diversity of our world.
New Release 2021
Petra Pencil Pines For Pizza
(French Edition)
Petra, la crayonette
pour pizzas
Petra aux petits défauts, passe ses journées seule dans la boîte à crayons à attendre le jour où elle pourra dessiner. Un jour, la boîte à crayons est renversée. Elle se retrouve alors sur une feuille de papier en train de dessiner sa passion: les pizzas. Soudainement devenue dodue à force de dessiner, les autres crayons pensent qu'elle est encore plus inutile qu'avant. Mais un jour un petit garçon, avec des besoins d'apprentissage spéciaux, se joint à la classe et c'est alors que se développe entre eux une particulière relation amicale.
Marisa's First Fishing Trip
(Spanish Edition)
El primer viaje de pesca de
Marisa
Un gran zapato osos y amigos libro
Marisa está volando a la casa del abuelo y el abuelo para una visita. Un día, el abuelo lleva a Marisa a pescar por primera vez. ¿Qué atrapó? ¿A quién estaba allí mirando todo el tiempo, puedes encontrarlo? ¡Qué aventura!
Lulubelle Loves to Bake - An Alphabet Cookbook
Lulubelle loves sweet things - delicious cakes, mouth-watering pies, chewy cookies, tempting bars. Lulubelle loves to share the sweet things she makes with her family and friends.
'Lulubelle Loves to Bake' is an alphabet cookbook complete with 26 recipes - one for each letter of the alphabet. Written in rhyme, children will have fun reading along as Lulubelle whips up some of her favourite, easy-to-make, yummy recipes.
Mamas Don't Murf
Women all over the world have a secret. Fart? What an awful word. Murf sounds much better. Mama has Daddy convinced that women don't pass gas, let loose a booty bomb, or cut the cheese. But babies murf. Boys murf. Animals murf. Daddies murf. Is it true that mamas don't murf? How can that be so? Read along and giggle as one little boy unravels the answer to this mystery.
Hair Peace
Johanita wants to have beautiful hair like the other girls at school. Johanita’s hair is very short. When her mother takes her to the hair salon, Johanita tries a series of wigs out each day at school, but she can’t decide which one makes her look beautiful.
After a new girl starts at school, Johanita discovers that beauty comes in many forms and it isn’t your hair that makes you beautiful.
New Releases 2020
Johanita veut avoir de beaux cheveux comme les autres filles à l'école. Les cheveux de Johanita sont très courts. Quand sa mère l'emmène au salon de coiffure, Johanita essaie une série de perruques à l'école chaque jour, mais elle n'arrive pas à décider laquelle la rend plus belle. Quand une nouvelle fille arrive à l'école, Johanita découvre que la beauté a de nombreuses facettes et ce ne sont pas les cheveux qui définissent la beauté.
Now Available in French
Hair Peace
Interview
Boomers on Books
May 11, 2021
Let's Talk Books 2021
Pink Cloud 9 Productions
January 16, 2021
The Lady Tracey Show
January 17, 2021
Author to Author
January 17, 2021
INTERVIEWS
On September 2, 2019, I was interviewed by Jed Doherty for the Reading With Your Kids Podcast. Not quite as nervous this time round. The show will be officially published on October 18, 2019. Please take a listen, let me know what you think,and help spread the word about my books :-)
"Sound is such an important part of the human experience!" ~ Dawn Doig
On April 19, 2018, I was interviewed for a podcast on iTeachOverseas. This was a very new experience for me. The interview focused on my former career as an audiologist, my current career as an English as an additional language teacher, and my journey to becoming a published author. Please click on the button below to listen and enjoy :-)
Raining Books
My books were featured on Canadian Writers Abroad:
"Sitting at the dining room table looking out at the hills of green or settled comfortably on my bed, the mosquito netting gently swaying in the air conditioning, two contented kitties curled up near my feet, I write. Many of my stories, inspired by the children I have worked with as an audiologist and teacher, family, friends, and general life experiences, come to me in dreams. I remember the 3 and 4 year old children sitting criss-cross applesauce on the carpet of the school library, squealing with delight as I read ‘Kydee’, and those giggles make every word worth it."
Johanita
Hi, nice to meet you! Tell the readers a little about yourself:
"My name is Johanita. I am nine years old and I go to an international school in Cameroon, Africa. I love to read books, bake with my mom, and play with my friends. Cats are my favourite animal. My favourite colour is blue."
Character Interview
Win's Books
Do you have any hobbies?
If so, what are they?
"I like to finger knit. It’s really cool. I also like to draw pictures and write stories about animals."
About Me
I am Canadian. Born in Victoria, B.C., Canada, I spent most of my childhood on Vancouver Island. I graduated from high school in Abbotsford, B.C., Canada in 1983 and went on to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in Linguistics from the University of Victoria in 1988. In 1990, I completed a Master of Science degree in Human Communication Disorders majoring in audiology which led to a very rewarding career that spanned 24 years. During that time, I have had the privilege to work with patients in different parts of Canada, Kuwait, England, and Saudi Arabia. While in Kuwait, I wrote my first children's picture book And So, Ahmed Hears which was inspired by all of the hearing-impaired and deaf children I have had the immense pleasure to work with over the years. Eight of my years as an audiologist were spent in Saudi Arabia where, in my role as head of the audiology unit, I was instrumental in helping to set up the communications department at a large rehabilitation hospital. This was and still is one of the highlights of my career in audiology.
In 2015, I completed a Master of Education degree in Teaching English as a Second Language through The College of New Jersey. My first teaching post was as an English as an Additional Language (EAL) teacher at the International School of Ulaanbaatar (ISU) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. While in Mongolia, I wrote E El Gi Piddr (republished as Whaaat?) which was inspired by the diverse population of students who were learning English as their second, third, fourth , or even fifth language. After five years in Mongolia, I relocated to Yaounde, Cameroon, to become the English Language Learner (ELL) coordinator at the American School of Yaounde (ASOY). I was blessed with yet another rewarding career. Instead of helping children to hear, I was helping them to speak, read, and write another language. Communication in any form is such an important part of being human.
I have two grown children, a son Colin and daughter Marisa, who both reside in greater Vancouver, Canada. I currently share my home with Kydee and Patches, two female kitties who were adopted in Mongolia. I love to bake to relieve stress and get immense pleasure out of sharing my baking with others. While living in Saudi Arabia, I self-published a baking book entitled Just Frickin' Bake It. It is available for purchase on Magcloud. Over 1400 copies of the cookbook were left in Saudi Arabia and any sales are to be donated to the Terry Fox Foundation for cancer research.
I love to travel and recent escapades have included hiking the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu, riding mountain bikes down Death Road in Bolivia, zip-lining through the rainforest in Thailand, whitewater rafting in Uganda, and trekking with chimpanzees in Uganda. In December 2018, I had a 40-year dream come true when I spent two hours with the mountain gorillas in Uganda. Seeing my books in the hands of children around the world is the next big dream I hope to see come true :-)
Gingerbread cruise ship created in December 2012.
Gingerbread cruise ship created in December 2012.
Gingerbread castle created in December 2010.
Gingerbread castle created in December 2010.
Gingerbread row housing created in December 2011.
Gingerbread row housing created in December 2011.
Gingerbread houses created in December 2009. These were my first attempt at building a gingerbread house.
Gingerbread houses created in December 2009. These were my first attempt at building a gingerbread house.
SWEET CREATIONS
One of my passions is baking. I love to bake and share the sweets I create with others. It gives me a tremendous amount of joy to see others enjoying what I have made. When we lived in Saudi Arabia, I baked regularly for the Hash House Harriers. It was through baking for them that I discovered the joy of making unique creations with gingerbread.
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