12-Year-Old Girl Takes Kids To The Stars
Author Erin Ley’s launch of her children’s book, Maggie’s in the Driver’s Seat, is an out-of-this-world adventure that kids and parents can take together from their own home. Six stimulating stories accompanied by full-color illustrations give parents the tools to teach their children how to build positive character traits and discover basic human virtues. Each excursion delivers a memorable message that children will forever benefit from throughout their own life journey.
Blast off with space academy student Maggie the Magnificent, a gregarious girl with an inquisitive mind, courageous spirit, and loving heart, as she jaunts from one planet to the next in her spaceship. Fun, creative, intelligent, and meaningful, the stories present important lessons in exciting ways that encourage children to tell their parents about their own daily adventures.
Each adventure story takes Maggie to a different planet where a different character trait is illustrated, learned, and applied. Maggie discovers responsibility, respect, honesty and accountability, compassion, self-discipline and generosity. As she encounters these traits, she realizes how she can apply them to her own life.
Maggie’s adventures also put her in contact with all sorts of curious creatures. On Planet Luvit she meets two-headed dragons. Planet Awe introduces her to a goobley goblin and a jumping giant. And on Planet Plenty, she has an enlightening conversation with the Present Givers.
Written for children age four and up, Maggie’s in the Driver’s Seat is a book that spans the ages with classic themes that inspire our children to care about themselves and others. Professionals in education and psychology will find that the topics in this book generate even more questions that lead to self-exploration.
Erin Ley blends universal themes and gives us insight into their simple yet powerful applications through the eyes of a young girl. She tells us that even in the year 3510 the world can be a better place if we all learn to value each other.
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“Eleanor Roosevelt wisely observed, ‘Character-building begins in infancy and continues until death.’ At a time when a negative media culture competes for our children’s conscience, parents do well to begin in the youngest years to help their children form a good character. Erin Ley’s Maggie’s in the Driver’s Seat offers six adventure stories that teach basic virtues we all want our kids to have.”
—Dr. Thomas Lickona, developmental psychologist; author, Character Matters
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“In each of the six stories, Maggie the Magnificent takes you on a fantastic journey to the outer limits of tomorrow. Parent and child will find Erin Ley’s Maggie’s in the Driver’s Seat both absorbing and entertaining, while providing an opportunity for discussion of important character traits that are much needed for our journey through the real world of today.”
—Whoopi Goldberg, distinguished winner of an Oscar at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Award, Grammy Award, People’s Choice Award, Tony Award, and so much more; mother; grandmother; strong children’s advocate who dedicates much of her time to causes such as children’s issues
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“Erin Ley’s Maggie’s in the Driver’s Seat invites the reader into an exciting adventure, while allowing them to explore character-building traits which are both invaluable and necessary for our children of today. Being a mother of three, I welcome any chance I get to share with my children stories of love, compassion, respect, and generosity. Thank you, Erin Ley, for forwarding this message through your heroine Maggie.”
—Alison Bartlett O’Reilly, Emmy Award winning actress for her role as “Gina” on the highly acclaimed television show Sesame Street
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“Erin Ley’s Maggie’s in the Driver’s Seat is a must-have for those of us with children. These creative and imaginative characters help parents to deliver great messages to our kids. This character-building book for children is priceless.”
—Jim Breuer, comedian/actor/producer; Saturday Night Live; The Jim Breuer Show; national radio host of Breuer Unleashed, on Sirius Satellite Radio; father of three young children
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Read Maggie’s in the Driver’s Seat together with your child and share a unique, fun-filled learning and bonding experience. These are adventure-filled stories parents can read and refer to over and over again to teach and reinforce basic but desirable character forming traits.
-Caro E. McCarthy, M.D., F.A.A.P.; NSUH LIJ Schneider Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics
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Maggie’s in the Driver’s Seat is a unique piece of literature that will prove to be useful in my work. The stories are inspiring, moving, lively, and enthralling. The message of positive character qualities comes across loud and clear, but not in a sermonic kind of way. My young patients as well as their parents will benefit from the book, whereby each story will open dialogue between the child and me, or the child and his or her parent.
-Marianne Muldoon, LCSW-R; National Association of Social Workers
