Behind the Scenes: Help Me Find My Voice Came to Life (Children's Book)

Every book has a story behind it—some arrive in a flash of inspiration, others take their sweet time, simmering in the back of your mind until they’re ready to be told. Help Me Find My Voice was a bit of both.

It started with a feeling. A frustrating, heartbreaking feeling of watching kids—ours and others—struggle to be heard while the same voices always took center stage. We knew this story had to exist, not just for children, but for anyone who has ever felt invisible.

The Moment of Realization: When Silence is Loudest

This idea didn’t hit us like a lightning bolt. It crept in quietly, like the very voices we wanted to amplify.

We had seen it so many times: a handful of kids getting all the attention, while others—just as talented, just as eager—faded into the background. And when they, or their parents, tried to speak up? Their voices seemed to disappear into the void.

It was frustrating. It was unfair. And it was a cycle that needed to be broken.

That’s when we decided: Let’s write a book that shows children their voices matter. That no matter who’s in the spotlight, they have every right to step forward and be heard.

The Writing Process: Finding a Voice for the Voiceless

We had the message. But how do you tell this story in a way that keeps children engaged—whether it's a bedtime read or a story shared during the day? We knew one thing for sure: we didn’t want it to feel like a lecture that would make kids tune out.

Enter Zippo.

Instead of using human characters, we created Zippo—a small, purple alien who lands in a field of farm animals. Each animal had its own sound, its own presence. Zippo, however, had nothing. No voice. No sound. Just the overwhelming feeling of being there but not seen.

Zippo became the heart of every child who has ever felt ignored.

A Children's Book children's picture book with animals and for kids to learn to love who they are

Writing this book was a rollercoaster—deeply emotional, yet we knew we had to blend in humor to make the subject feel approachable and engaging.

We had:

• Too many rewrites—"Is this too simple? Too complicated? Too obvious?"

• A great debate over whether Zippo should literally find a voice or if it should be something more symbolic.

• Moments of existential crisis—"Wait, do we even know how to write a children’s book?"

A Story Born from Real-Life Experiences

While the world was adjusting to a new normal, we wrote Help Me Find My Voice—a time when, ironically, everyone was trying to be heard. The world was in chaos, and people were shouting into the digital void, desperate to make sense of it all.

For us, writing this book became more than a creative project; it became a way to process our own feelings of uncertainty. It gave us purpose when everything else felt paused.

Deleted Scenes & What Almost Made It

Like any creative project, some ideas didn’t make the final cut. Here are a few that almost did:

• A human mentor: At one point, we thought a child should help Zippo find their voice. But we realized this was about self-discovery—Zippo needed to find it on their own.

• A barnyard of extras: We originally had way more animals, but it got too chaotic. We’re talking farm-animal reality show levels of drama.

• A musical twist: There was a version where Zippo found their voice through song. But we decided the "voice" should symbolize any form of self-expression, not just music.

The Creative Process: A Balancing Act

Writing for kids is an art. It needs to be simple, but not shallow. Emotional, but not heavy-handed.

We went back and forth, questioning:

• Is this too simple?

• Will kids understand?

• Will adults feel it?

But we kept reminding ourselves—this was the book we wished we had as kids. And that thought kept us going.

Personal Connections: Writing From Experience

This book is deeply personal. Not just because of what we’ve seen in children today, but because we’ve been Zippo.

We’ve all had moments where we felt drowned out by louder, more confident voices. Where we felt like we were waving our hands, trying to be noticed, and yet… nothing.

That’s why this book matters to us. It’s not just a story—it’s something we wish we could go back and tell our younger selves: Your voice matters. You don’t need permission to use it.

The Title That Almost Wasn’t

Naming a book is an adventure in itself. Some of our early ideas:

• The Lost Voice

• Silent but Strong

• Zippo Finds a Sound

But none of them quite fit. Finally, we realized—it’s not just about a voice, it’s about finding your own. And so, Help Me Find My Voice was born.

Moments of Doubt & Writing Mishaps

Like any creative process, we had our fair share of missteps:

At one point, we accidentally wrote a scene where Zippo physically couldn’t speak… which read more like a medical emergency than a metaphor.

A typo turned one of the farm animals into an accidental comedian. We had to stop writing because we were laughing too hard.

The final page? We rewrote it at least ten times before landing on the perfect ending.

A Book That’s More Than Just Words

At the heart of Help Me Find My Voice is a simple truth: every voice matters.

No matter how loud the world is, no matter how invisible you feel—your voice deserves to be heard.

This book is our way of reminding children (and adults) that their voices already matter—just as they are.

And if nothing else, Help Me Find My Voice is proof that sometimes, the most powerful stories come from the quietest moments.

Get Your Copy

Let your little one experience this story—Help Me Find My Voice is available now on Amazon! This inspiring book not only empowers children to find their voice but also creates meaningful conversations between parents and kids. A must-have for any little reader’s collection!