Autographed Books

Item Description

Kyle McGrath's book, Cannon the Brown Bear. This charming and beautifully illustrated fable tells the tale of a cute brown bear named Cannon as he learns the value of self-reliance. Join him in his journey from being a happy bear playing in the streams and gathering berries, to being a lazy and bored bear receiving handouts and a free den, to once again discovering the joys of independence and self-esteem that come with being free. Full of bright colors and adventure, this witty and warm story will soon become a favorite for you and your children! 

McGrath last year self-published a children's book,Cannon the Brown Bear: An Illustrated Children’s Fable. The book is available on Amazon athttp://amzn.com/1483966836. Its illustrator is Michaela McGrath.

“It’s my beautiful wife,” the 10-year local teaching veteran said of Michaela. “She’s the one who illustrated it.”

Cannon the Brown Bear tells of a young bear who learns self-reliance after becoming too dependent on handouts. Kyle McGrath had earlier helped out at Detroit’s Focus: HOPE and wanted to impart “the value of hard work and earning things yourself. So I decided to write a story on it. The next thing I knew it came together.”

He and Michaela have three children ages 7, 5 and 1. “It took me awhile,” he said of the book, adding his wife’s being a busy mom also took time. The book’s goal is to “hopefully spread the message to kids about working hard.”

He teaches government and U.S. history at Milford High, and has taught world history. Their own kids enjoy the book and its illustrations.

“They get the message and they enjoy the story,” Waterford resident McGrath said. He’s signed the book for his own teenage students, but doesn’t talk it up at school.

“I try not to promote my own book at school,” he said. “That’s not really the forum. They get a kick out of it. It’s kind of cool for them,” he said of the high schoolers.

He read a lot of books to their children and notes the book quality varies. “It’s supposed to give kids some values,” he said of his story. “You have to work. When you do, you’ll enjoy it a lot more.”

He’s had “starts and stops” in writing. “I will publish something in the future, for sure,” said McGrath, 35. “It was not difficult to write it.”

The McGraths had more challenges with publishing, including software, and with getting the word out on Cannon the Brown Bear.

“It was to try and inspire kids. Something to read that’s also valuable to them,” he said.

He’d written short stories in high school. “I’m no Dr. Seuss, for sure,” McGrath said. The book includes discussion questions for parents and children.

“You can still at a young age teach your kids important values,” he said. “It was just a great project. I probably give away more copies than I sell,” to share its message.

jcbrown@hometownlife.com

Item Special Note

Author will autograph and mail book to winning bidder!