Keiko &Ruben in the Land of Sounds

WELCOME

The adventures of Taylor Keiko Mochizuki and Sir Rubén Rainbow revolve around the heartbreak of a child falling behind their friends in school. Keiko struggles, but fails, to learn to read. It is a 'Wizard of Oz' type story, but it is Keiko, not Dorothy, who loses her happiness.

Keiko travels to the Rainbow and into 'The Land of Sounds.' Sir Rubén Rainbow, a boy of many colors, is her guide. A boy was chosen for this role, as in the US, one in four children grow up not being able to read proficiently above a third-grade level, and boys fall behind at a higher rate than girls. Having a boy become the teacher keeps the adventure stories uplifting for boys.

Keiko is brave and smart. She swims like a fish underwater, and she can throw a baseball better than the boys. In Rainbowland she will learn to read.

The kindness, the empathy, and the love given to Dorothy by the Simple Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion as they head for Oz, transfers to little Mousey who lives in Ruben's pocket, Maleeka, the heart of Rainbowland, and Shawneen, as Oz himself. Babu Mischief brings to the stories Mischief and fun. All stories are illustrated.

Note: It is frightening how many American children are falling behind the children of the world in literacy. Many schools, ABC books, and television videos meant to teach beginning readers have not impacted the numbers. When a child falls behind in their ability to read, statistics show...they often face a much harder time achieving a successful future.

THE ANSWER

Teach your child to read before they start school--remembering--ABC Books often make it harder for some children to learn to read; children who cannot make the abstract jump that the names of alphabet letters and the reading sounds of alphabet letters are often not the same. A for apple is sight reading.

Within the 20 sequential adventure/fantasy stories of Keiko and Rubén, a child learns the reading sounds of letters. They learn to sound out simple words.

In Iceland, their very successful beginning reading program (despite the complexity of their language) also uses adventure stories set in fantasy to teach beginning readers to read. These storybook characters become as well-known as Disney Princesses and Marvel Super Heroes. Examples: Shorri, a curious boy who loves adventures, Freya, a brave girl with a passion for nature, and Bjorn, a friendly bear who helps his friends.

Target Market

Taylor Keiko Mochizuki & Sir Rubén Rainbow

In the Land of Sounds

FOR CHILDREN FOUR TO SIX YEARS OLD

Used as a Picture Book, parents, teachers, and loved ones are to read the stories first and then tell the stories to their children at the level of their child's understanding. By keeping the book hidden away until a special reading time (bedtime is best), and by not looking ahead at the pictures, the element of surprise keeps children wanting more. Limiting the stories to one a day, a small child with a short attention span stays interested and has a better chance of remembering the lesson.

FOR OLDER CHILDREN & CHILDREN

FALLING BEHIND IN READING

Read aloud one and only one sequential story at a time--not as a textbook--but as one would read Treasure Island or Harry Potter.

OVERVIEW

On her journey, Keiko wins Bright Star (a flying pony) in a game of guessing animal sounds. Children identify with the premise of the game, 'animals don't say their names; they have their own special sounds.' Keiko's adversary is a jealous Wild Wild Wind. "You will stay forever in this darkness, Keiko. I will do everything in my power to stop you from learning to read."

And of course, the Wild Wild Wind becomes a hero at the end, as overcoming jealousy is one of the many life lessons Keiko learns on her journey into the Land of Sounds.

REVIEW: Shepherd Siegel, PhD, author of Disruptive Play

Carla Janes-Heneghan has spun a tale as delightful as it is unique. With stunning illustrations that bring the reader into this fantasy world. We ride along with Keiko in adventures with Babu Mischief, Bright Star, Captain Renaissance Red, Sir Turtle, The Wild Wild Wind, and many more. Meant to be read aloud, Taylor Keiko Mochizuki & Sir Rubén Rainbow in the Land of Sounds teaches struggling readers how to break through to fluency, and teaches other children empathy for them...plus it's a wild and dazzling ride.

To Come

Two movie screenplays, adapted from the twenty sequential 2,000-word stories, are in process.

Story 10, The Invisible Babu Mischief, the Trickster of Rainbowland, was chosen as a finalist for the 2025 unpublished Pacific NW Writers Association.