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The Truth About Shadow People: Knowing the Monster Better
Photo by Julius Drost The truth about shadow people can be somewhat terrifying, but at the same time, it can be very liberating to finally understand what they are. Chris Cochrane, author of Castle Forks (a story about immortal Demon Shadows), talks about his and his...
Top 10 Mystical Creatures in Stories and Their Meaning
Photo by Craig Adderley Mystical creatures in stories have a purpose in making the tale more compelling and convey a meaning that should resonate lessons for the readers. Different stories are told from different perspectives and styles. Most adventure stories follow...
Finding Thrill, Fantasy, and Adventure in Castle Forks
Photo by Kylene Hashimoto Castle Forks is a fantasy book by Chris Cochrane that depicts a massively epic adventure with world-changing stakes. Secret conspiracies. Magic. What's not to like? The human spirit always craves adventure. We long to explore the unknown,...
Teaching Children to Look Beyond Physical Appearances in Books
Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash Influencing our kids to look beyond surface-level judgments is a valuable lesson in empathy, understanding, and acceptance. Children’s books, filled with engaging stories and relatable characters, provide a powerful platform to impart...
Why We Shouldn’t Judge Appearance and Listen to Our Biases
Photo by Martin Dalsgaard Why we shouldn't judge appearance is an essential social awareness that everybody must learn and keep in their heart of hearts. Chris Cochrane, author of the children's book "The Dinglehopper Blueberry Belly-Button Snooter" (a story...
Finding Morals Through Mystical Creatures in the Fantasy Genre
Photo by Anton Darius on Unsplash Mystical creatures have been a staple of fantasy literature and cinema for centuries. These fantastical beings often serve as more than just magical elements in the story; they can also convey profound morals and themes. Here,...
The Belly-Button Snooter: A Wacky Monster as a Teaching Tool
Photo by bt3gl ♡ The Dinglehopper Blueberry Belly-Button Snooter by Chris Cochrane is a great example of how a wacky monster can be used effectively in children's literature. Monsters are very important cultural touchstones. They are malleable tools that teach readers...