Connectivity
The Girl with 35 Names is a coming-of-age story with an unexpected twist of an ending. Based on the true-life story of the author’s grandmother, and the author’s ancestry discovery journey, this masterpiece is about the magic of matrilineal wisdom and the wonderful connections to the past that make us who we are.
It is about the difficulties of immigration and the loneliness and isolation of a new and different place.
Molly’s story resonates with young and old alike. Believe anything is possible and tiny miracles will happen all around us if only we choose to see.
It is about the difficulties of immigration and the loneliness and isolation of a new and different place.
Molly’s story resonates with young and old alike. Believe anything is possible and tiny miracles will happen all around us if only we choose to see.
Two feature-length screenplays, exploring the universal appeal of Molly’s adventures, powers, and gifts are currently underway.
Part 1: Journey
The Girl with 35 Names, spans Molly’s childhood and early adulthood charting her discovery of the magic of her ancestral line, her coming to terms with emerging powers, and concludes with her forced exile from Russia
Part 2: Arrival
The sequel begins with Molly’s immigration to America, along with her new husband, Sam.
As we follow Molly and Sam in their exile, we experience the challenges and surprises of America at the turn of the twentieth century. We are brought to a journey of heartbreak, community, and hope as Molly slowly but surely infuses her new American home with some Old-World magic.
Part 1: Journey
The Girl with 35 Names, spans Molly’s childhood and early adulthood charting her discovery of the magic of her ancestral line, her coming to terms with emerging powers, and concludes with her forced exile from Russia
Part 2: Arrival
The sequel begins with Molly’s immigration to America, along with her new husband, Sam.
As we follow Molly and Sam in their exile, we experience the challenges and surprises of America at the turn of the twentieth century. We are brought to a journey of heartbreak, community, and hope as Molly slowly but surely infuses her new American home with some Old-World magic.
By drawing on characters from Molly’s past, present and future, the series spans multiple seasons, with each season focusing on the arc of an individual female protagonist. At this point, protagonist include the younger Pearl, Molly, Molly’s daughter Rosie, and Rosie’s daughter, Lily.
Each season follows a single heroine through time as she solved family mysteries, learns about her individual magical powers, and changes the arc of history.
The series will further explore the mysterious figure of the family tree, inspired by ancient mythologies, and its bewitching role within Molly and Pearl’s ancestry. Individual story arcs would be offset by dramatic historical backdrops ranging from Russia to America to Hawaii and include the Russian Civil War and World Wars I and II.
Each series arc features themes of environmental annihilation, saving family trees from destruction, and redemptive power of connectivity
Each season follows a single heroine through time as she solved family mysteries, learns about her individual magical powers, and changes the arc of history.
The series will further explore the mysterious figure of the family tree, inspired by ancient mythologies, and its bewitching role within Molly and Pearl’s ancestry. Individual story arcs would be offset by dramatic historical backdrops ranging from Russia to America to Hawaii and include the Russian Civil War and World Wars I and II.
Each series arc features themes of environmental annihilation, saving family trees from destruction, and redemptive power of connectivity
The Girl with 35 Names The novel and the curriculum for The Girl with 35 Names by DJ Colbert, brings key Social Emotional Learning opportunities into the middle school classrooms that engage and develop the CASEL competencies through thoughtful and reflective awareness. Students will embark on a journey of self discovery, right alongside Molly, and work through the sometimes-difficult themes of family, diversity, struggle, and love while reflecting on their own experiences and thoughts.
Educators will fully embrace this curriculum and feel privileged to experience and celebrate the unique gifts of their students.
Educators will fully embrace this curriculum and feel privileged to experience and celebrate the unique gifts of their students.
Former Superintendent Washoe County School District (serving +65k students), NV
4. Empathy Building block (Minute 2 to minute)
- MMP engaged nearly 25,000 educators, grades K-8, from 37 states through the educators 2 educators cohort with outreach and awareness of the novel and SEL curriculum.
- Of these 25,000 educators, 50 were chosen to complete a read and review for the novel, from 25 states. These educators come from school districts that are 24% rural, 36% suburban, 31% urban, and 9% not defined. 67% self- identify as teaching in economically disadvantaged districts or schools and 43% self identify as teaching with a high ELL population of students.
- These educators are comprised of gr K-8 classroom teachers, librarians, school counselors, administrators, interventionists, special education educators, academic-social interventionists, SEL coaches, ELA coordinators, and educational aids.
- 100% of educators responded that the curriculum used appropriate levels of academic language for grade and content areas.
- 100% of educators responded that the vocabulary and context(s) in the curriculum was free from cultural or other unintended bias.
- 93.8% of educators responded that the length of the lessons is appropriate for students.
- 93.8% of educators responded that directions for the items or tasks presented in as straightforward a manner as possible for a range of learners.
- 87.5% of educators responded that they felt the balance and variety of tasks and activities within each unit. Educators took special and favorable note of the STEAM activities.
- 62% of readers rated the novel an 8, 9, or 10/10 for themselves AND their students!
- 100% of listeners loved the audiobook experience and the voice actor who read the novel.
- 62.5% of educators chose to pilot the novel and curriculum this winter!
“I felt empowered as diversity was an exploration throughout this book, and I need to immerse myself in that specific theme. How wonderful to have a book that not only schools us in diversity but uses names to do it. Throughout my 35 years as an educator, my student's names have truly changed from Mary, Sue, and Bob to Jenasis, ABCDE, Xenis, Zephy, Mohammed, and Javier. My students are proud of their names and how they are pronounced. We need books like this that illustrate the depth and complexity, and dare I say the importance of names and families that are unique in this day and age. Times are hard right now and sharing the struggles of Molly and her family with our students empowers them to persevere.”
“I've already shared this at a PD this week! I've shared it with a few co-workers as well letting them know how beneficial I think it could be with our students and SEL.”
“I have a history with my own name, so it was very special to read a story of how someone else was named and the relationship with each character... I loved reading about the different characters and how I could share their stories with my students. I kept imagining different lessons I could create with what each name represented.”
From Tiny Seeds Miracles Grow
….inspired by the writings of Dr. Seuss
by DJ Colbert
This new collection of children’s stories will touch your heart and spark your imagination! The rhymes and messages contained in each of the nine stories are sure to delight readers of all ages, encouraging meaningful discussions that are fun for the whole family.. Discover what makes a real superhero, the special meaning of your name, and the magic that is in all of us to change the world for the better. Come, celebrate the person you were born to be and the amazing talents that make you uniquely YOU!
When you do, you will be sure to find that…from tiny seeds miracles are SURE to grow.
Because, in all the world, there is no one as WONDERFUL and SPECIAL as YOU!”
….inspired by the writings of Dr. Seuss
by DJ Colbert
This new collection of children’s stories will touch your heart and spark your imagination! The rhymes and messages contained in each of the nine stories are sure to delight readers of all ages, encouraging meaningful discussions that are fun for the whole family.. Discover what makes a real superhero, the special meaning of your name, and the magic that is in all of us to change the world for the better. Come, celebrate the person you were born to be and the amazing talents that make you uniquely YOU!
When you do, you will be sure to find that…from tiny seeds miracles are SURE to grow.
Because, in all the world, there is no one as WONDERFUL and SPECIAL as YOU!”
