Meet Christina Dankert | Educator & Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christina Dankert and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christina, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
What is the most important lesson, as a parent, you have taught your children and how does your book relate to that concept?

As a parent, my husband and I strive to teach our children how to be kind and empathetic to others. As parents or caregivers, the list of things we have to do in a day can be daunting. From the beginning, reading to our children has been a constant. Even when our schedules are busy, we do our best to find time to read to our children. My husband, Chad, and I had the opportunity to collaborate as we created the picture book, The Kindness Machine. I always knew I wanted to write a book, but it took years to figure out that kindness was where I wanted my author journey to start. As a teacher, I spend a lot of time reading picture books to my children and second grade students, and I felt this message of kindness to others and kindness to ourselves was and is extremely important. My husband illustrated the story and brought the characters and the machine to life. Our children had the opportunity to watch us work together during this process. They know how important kindness and reading is to us and were able to see first hand what it looks like to create something to spread kindness and promote literacy. As a teacher, I have the chance to share about 150 picture books with my 20 – 25 students each year. The Kindness Machine is now being read in classrooms all over. Sharing the importance of kindness with hundreds of students makes my teacher heart and author heart so very happy.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
How can picture books be used beyond a simple story time in homes and classrooms?

A picture book can be a springboard for meaningful conversations. The conversation can happen during the read aloud of the story or when the story is finished. Most picture books take between 3-8 minutes to read. However, the discussion that can be sparked from a picture book can take an additional 10-15 minutes. As a parent, find the time to have the discussion, even if it is the following day. As an educator, select books that can help facilitate those conversations and build in the time to have the discussion. This helps teach important life lessons as well as builds a classroom community where students feel safe to ask questions and share personal experiences.

The most important thing is to keep reading. Keep reading to the children in your life. Continue to celebrate others. Continue to build kindness, empathy and compassion. When you’re stuck, head to the library or your favorite indie bookstore and start with a stack of books.

Alright, so let’s jump right in! The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there a person, group, organization, book, etc. that you want to dedicate your shoutout to? Who else deserves a little credit and recognition in your story?  
Do picture books really matter? Are they only for children?

From the tips of my toes to the top of my head, I truly believe that not only do picture books matter, but I believe they can help change the world. Our world is currently filled with so much hate. I believe that a lot of that hate comes from misunderstandings, ignorance and uncertainty. Picture books are short stories packed with powerful words and stunning illustrations. They can be for pure humor and entertainment which helps children fall in love with reading. But, picture books can be so much more. They can be a window into the lives of others, a mirror to see your family and culture celebrated, and a sliding glass door as you better understand those around you. How boring would it be if we were all the same? Picture books help shine a positive spotlight on our differences. Through these powerful books, we are able to build kindness, empathy and compassion to those around us. The best part about picture books? They are not just for children. The grownup reading the book to the child is reminded that our differences should be celebrated and hopefully they help soften our hearts. Middle schools, high schools and even college courses, will often use picture books to teach concepts and launch meaningful discussions, which leads me to the next topic.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christina.dankert/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaDankertAuthor

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvGFI3WNUXU

Other: Amazon: http://mybook.to/TheKindnessMachine Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-kindness-machine-christina-dankert/18102510?ean=9781955119085