An Adventuresome family
Mom and sons publish children’s books
By Cynthia Reeves Photos by Kate Treick Photography
Callan is just six and his brother, Alistair, is four, but the siblings and their mother are quickly gaining a reputation as intrepid authors, travelers and adventurers.
This spring the boys and their mom, Christine Kapanga, published their second book featuring the fictional character Conner.
In June, the family traveled to New York City to see a billboard for “Conner’s Adventure: New School...Big Jitters!” in Times Square.
The book is out just in time for the new school year. It follows the first in the series, “Conner’s Adventure: Finding Friends at the Zoo.”
Conner is a name Kapanga created that combines the “C” for the first letter in Callan’s name and the “R” from Alistair’s name. The illustrated character in the stories looks a lot like the boys.
Kapanga and her family moved to Pensacola from Chicago about three years ago. Trips to the Gulf Breeze Zoo were a regular outing. The boys were always curious and full of ideas and questions, so their mom encouraged them to put their ideas into writing.
With her background at Amazon in marketing, advertising and technology, she felt confident she could self-publish their tales and appeal to the four- to seven-year-old demographic.
Callan, who attends A.K. Suter Elementary School, is quick to explain that he played a big part in developing the latest book.
“I had the ideas for the book and what to put inside.”
The story includes his own experiences and the “jitters” from making new friends and finding his way around school. There’s a drawing of a map his mom used to help him learn his way around the big campus.
Kapanga encourages her children, and those who will read the book, to see every new challenge as a grand adventure.
“Adventure takes the fear out. Instead of saying this is new, think this is fun.”
She says the strategy works for adults too.
“Just take a deep breath and pause!”
Callan will be in first grade this fall, but he’s not worried or nervous.
“I get to go to special places like music class and P.E.!”
His little brother, Alistair, is in preschool at Episcopal Day School, where he says his favorite things are “playing, going to the park, the swings and finding ants and bugs.”
Kapanga says the family travels a lot together, which is the inspiration for the third book in the series. After traveling to Asia, including South Korea, Thailand and Singapore, they’re outlining a story where Conner tackles travel from a kid’s point of view.
