Kathy Jardine & Ashley Jardine
Meet the Durples. Cindyloo, Mollyboo and Woodroo invite you to join them on their adventure in Elkton Forest where they meet many new and unique friends. One of their new friends, an outcast named Odalee, teaches them how to play his musical instrument; the mookaluke. When confronted with bullies, the Durples show their new friends a unique way of dealing with them. Children will learn the importance of acceptance and understand how 'cool' each and every character is despite any physical hindrances they may appear to have.
The Durples: Get Lost in Elkton Forest is the first book of the Durples series. You don't want to miss out on any of these fun filled learning adventures!
www.thedurples.com
Kathy Jardine, the creator of the Durples stories and characters, is the wife of Ron, the mother of three grown girls and the grandmother of a special little boy named Brayden. Kathy has spent many years selflessly working with special needs children and throughout those years was inspired by those same children to write and share her stories. Kathy's most significant message is to judge nobody by their appearance, as it is what is on the inside that really counts. It is quite clear that she values how special each and every child in the world is and spreading that message has become very important to her.
Ashley Jardine, the daughter of Kathy Jardine, is inspired by her mother's passion for children. After reading Kathy's ideas for the Durples, and having such a deep appreciation for the importance of Kathy's message, she dedicated herself to ensuring the project was complete with writing, re-writing and eventually illustrating the story.
“Would you know the way from here? Would you?” asked Woodroo.
“Of course, you are very close; it’s just over the hill past the big oak tree. If that’s where you are headed, I could show you the way,” suggested the girl looking down shyly at her leg brace. “I’m Princess Lilly.”
“Wow, are you a real Princess?” asked wide-eyed Willy.
“Yes, my mom is Queen of the Flowers of the Forest. She was born with special powers which bring spring flowers.”
“Wow!” they all gasped.
“We’re the Durples, I’m Mollyboo, this is my sister Cindyloo and my brother Woodroo, our new friends Odalee, Willy and Billy. We are honoured to meet you Princess Lilly.”
They walked and talked and as they got to know each other, the Durples realized that their new friends had something in common. Odalee, Willy, Billy and Princess Lilly shared stories of being bullied, they had been made fun of for the way they talked or walked or looked. Mollyboo was quick to reassure them that it is what is on the inside that counts. Mollyboo, Cindyloo and Woodroo were thankful that they grew up in Turpleville where everybody was treated with kindness and bullying was unheard of. It gave the Durples the good fortune to meet their new friends and to give them all something they’d never had, true friends who cared about who they were on the inside. The Durples gave them a chance.
