Determined as I was not to write the type of story where lint under the bed turns into a cute, magic bunny rabbit, I set forth to turn out books that our youngest children could not only enjoy, but would set them on a course of love and kindness.Education is Fun shouts the mission of Romper Room, an ancient children's TV show that consumed a large part of my professional life. That, and being the mother of six children told me that the publisher was wrong. I know for certain that it's easier to train a toddler than to re-train a troubled teen, so I set off to defy her advice and Gorp and subsequently Pumpernickel Park were born.Funny, as I'm writing this, I'm thinking of a letter that more than any award or review from an adult, proves my point.Ashlinn an 8 year old from AZ wrote: "Thank you so much for coming to are class on Tuesday. I think now some of the kids are a lot niser beacaus of Gorp's Dream. Some of the kids think it will proubly change there life beacaus of Gorp's Dream. Have a good day." (Spelling is all Ashlinn's)Being a lot nicer......wow, they get it!!!Also, in the "Gorp is very proud" mode is when the NEA (Teacher's Union) chose this book to be a part of their anti-bullying program, when the creator of the Family Circus, Bil Keane gave it 6 thumbs up, or when 5 year old Wendy decided that in her Kindergarten fire project, if she could 'save' just one object that she would save her Gorp's Dream book. Compliments don't come higher than that.* * * * *As a champion of children's causes since her earliest days in Minnesota, Sherri Chessen has been there for the kids. As a child she was involved with Brownies, Girl Scouts and was active in Community Children's Theatre. Her love of children continued into her adult live where she became an Emmy winning teacher on TV's Romper room, a mother of 6 and a writer of children's books......yes, all preachy and all with a cause behind them. Gorp's Gift takes on the subject of gun safety and she's gone a 'few rounds' with the NRA. Her latest book was not one she wanted to write, but was asked to do so. Gorp's Secret concerns child sexual abuse and hopefully it's helped to empower many children who unfortunately meet with egregious sub-humans who dare to touch them inappropriately.Each book has an accompanying Teacher's/Parent Guide that gets more out of the books than is even in the stories. They have been written by Tracy Atwell, a third grade teacher at Hemingway Elementary in the Sun Valley, Idaho area. Baby Gorp completes the series and is a stuffed toy that reminds the kids of their promises to Gorp. These pledges are found in each delightful, instructive, even life-saving book.Come visit Gorp at www.thegorp.com