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‘The Story Behind the Story’ of Dragonfly Surprise
Claire is my first daughter. She is brain-injured from two brain tumor surgeries during infancy. Throughout her life Claire has been unable to speak, yet we knew she had a lot going on in her mind. Our family and friends share a deep desire to help Claire communicate.
The impetus to write this story stemmed from my heart’s desire to give Claire a voice; to explore her thoughts, feelings, and beautiful soul. Throughout the writing of this story I checked in with Claire on whether she liked the story about her. She tapped my hand for “yes” for every sentence in this book and has given me huge smiles.
A dragonfly experience similar to the one in the story happened to us and my sister’s family at a lake property in north central Minnesota.
This story has many levels of meaning. The hero/heroine’s journey is one of them.
Claire learns the value of listening with her heart which allows her to see clearly.
I hope you enjoy hearing Claire’s voice through Dragonfly Surprise, which features the story of Claire who becomes an everyday heroine.
I am a former teacher who holds a BA in elementary education/ kindergarten. As an advocate for disability rights, I have served on advisory committees at the state, county, and school levels. I delight in the natural world, travel, and expanding my spiritual life.
Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite
Dragonfly Surprise by Theresa A. O’Kane is the story of Claire, a little girl who is brave enough to overcome her fears. Claire hates bugs. One day, while she is sitting by a lake in Minnesota, a monstrous brownish-green beetle creeps towards her and places its hairy, spindly feet onto Claire’s bare leg. She wants to be brave, but she cannot speak words, so she remains silent and still. The beetle crawls off her quilt and then next comes a swarm of dragonflies. As Claire crawls towards her wheelchair, she is surrounded by a bright light and a shimmering girl with wings takes shape in front of her. Her guardian angel tells her more about dragonflies and how they symbolize courage and happiness. Claire gets over her fear of dragonflies after her guardian angel explains to her more about the winged creatures and where they come from.
Dragonfly Surprise by Theresa A. O’Kane is a story of getting rid of fears and becoming brave. The whimsical element woven throughout the plot and the charming illustrations make the story magical and enchanting, and the characters are vivid. It is encouraging to see Claire finding her courage. The story has a few strong messages for young readers, which are motivating and will help them listen with their hearts so that they can see clearly. It is an adorable story to read to children as it will guide them towards being courageous.
