Book Birthday Blog with Kathleen Marcath

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

 

Congratulations to Kathleen Marcath on the release of My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me: Coloring and Activity Book

 

  

This book is a companion to your award-winning debut picture book My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me. What inspired you to create the new book?

Absolutely! Children loved the original story so much that I wanted to create an activity-packed companion, enabling them to dive even deeper into the world of their monster truck. This 77-page My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me: Coloring & Activity Book combines coloring, drawing, mazes, memory games, writing, and even a little math, utilizing American Sign Language number handshapes instead of traditional numbers. I designed each page to challenge and delight children ages 3-9—sparking their imagination, problem-solving skills, and language development.

Please describe the process to create this fun companion book. Were there challenges?

The biggest challenge was simply getting started. With the encouragement of my coach, Sue Mohr of The Inner Vizion, I set a  deadline and that gave me the push I needed. I began sketching ideas in Canva, pulling together activities I thought children would enjoy, a little writing, drawing, mazes and puzzles.

Once the framework was in place, I teamed up with graphic designer Praise Saflor and Alexa, who transformed those rough concepts into polished, engaging pages. For the final touches, I called on my “grammar guru” friend, Nancy Rudnik, to review the text, and we arranged the activities and coloring pages so they flowed naturally. Seeing the illustrations originally created by Isaac Liang and Pardeep Mehra repurposed in this new format brought everything full circle.

It was a journey with lots of moving parts, but the structure, teamwork, and child-centered focus kept it fun from start to finish.

 

What inspires you to write?

Children inspire me! Their excitement for life, their imaginations, and their faith that they can do anything—it’s contagious. I never want them to lose that. My goal is to help every child experience inner joy and peace in who they are, while also giving them tools to discover their potential and soar.

You’ve assembled an award-winning team to work with. Please describe how you found this amazing group of professionals and the work they do in collaboration with you to create ASL material.

When writing for children, I’ve learned the best approach is to ask them directly what they enjoy. During my author visits, students shared wonderful suggestions, and several of those ideas made their way into this activity book. To keep myself accountable, I worked with my coach, Sue Mohr of The Inner Vizion, who gave me the encouragement and deadlines I needed to bring this dream to life.

For design, I turned again to Praise Saflor, the graphic designer behind My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me, and her assistant, Alexa. They brought my ideas to life with skill and creativity. Praise has a special passion for children’s books and a gift for designing engaging, lesson-filled storybooks. And when it came time to choose the cover, my grandson, Dylan, settled it in an instant—out of four designs, he pointed straight to his favorite. No hesitation, no second guessing. The bold orange background? Turns out it’s one of his school colors—kids always know what they like!

 

What’s next for you? Any events coming up, or new books in the works? Where can we find your companion book?

The My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me: Coloring & Activity Book officially launched on September 15, 2025, and I’m thrilled with the excitement it has already generated! Readers can find it on Amazon or directly through my website at https://www.aslpicturebooks.com/, where I also share a free ASL Starter Kit, resources and an active blog full of stories, insights, and tools for families and educators.

Looking ahead, I’ll be continuing author visits with schools and libraries this fall, and I’m also pouring energy into new ASL-inclusive projects. While I’m not ready to reveal details just yet, I can promise they will celebrate ASL, foster inclusion, and spark joy for children and families everywhere.

More about the book . . .

This fun-filled 77-page coloring and activity book is the ideal partner to the award-winning picture book My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me – Illustrated in American Sign Language. With activities ranging from mazes and matching games to number recognition and ASL handshapes for telling time, it offers engaging challenges for children ages 3–9. Every page is designed to cultivate creativity, enrich problem solving, and support language development, making learning an adventure.

Published by: ASL Picture Books LLC

More about the author . . .

Kathleen Marcath, founder of ASL Picture Books LLC, is the author of the award-winning My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me – Illustrated in American Sign Language, recipient of a Kirkus Star and Kirkus “Best Indie Book of 2021.” Her work champions literacy, inclusion, and the Deaf community by opening doors to the beauty of ASL in homes, classrooms, and storytime corners. Kathleen’s vision is rooted in her conviction that ASL is an untapped resource with limitless potential—a gift waiting to transform how children learn, connect, and thrive.

 Instagram: @aslpicture books 

Facebook: ASL Picture Books 

Website: https://www.aslpicturebooks.com/ 

 

 

Book Birthday Blog with Kathleen Marcath

 

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors and illustrators.

 

Congratulations to Kathleen Marcath on the release of My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me

 

 

 

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

 

While studying ASL and Deaf culture, I noticed the need for more children's books, inclusive of ASL, and was inspired to write My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me. My three-year-old grandson and his love for monster trucks are the basis for this first book. It started as a poem and unfolded into a story of childhood fun and imagination with ASL illustrations on each page. My goal is for children and families, both hearing and d/Deaf, to see ASL as normal—just like any other language.

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?

 

I hope my readers get the magical experience of ASL. My introduction to ASL came at a retreat. A woman taught us several songs, but one was in my head and on my hands all week. When our group signed "Our God is an Awesome God" the following Sunday, something came over me and has not left. I believe ASL is an untapped resource we can all benefit from. The potential is limitless. I hope our readers find it valuable and purposeful.

Research shows that children who learn sign language, even baby signs, can improve their vocabulary by 15-20% compared to non-signing peers. I hope ASL Picture Books will be a catalyst to bring ASL into the classroom from preschool through high school. Our talented team's videos offer lessons with each of the 32 signs, with native signers Diana Campbell and Michelle Osterhout brilliantly telling the story. In addition, Detroit's own Dennis Neubacher narrates a vibrant tale of My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me for the English student. You can read all about them in our blog article, "Award Winning Team."   The videos are all available with a QR code in the book. You can pick up a copy wherever books are sold. Oakiebees.com is offering special discounts now through December!

What inspires you to write?

 

I continue to be inspired by readers, reviews, and awards. We were so honored to receive the Kirkus Starred Review and were selected in April to be spotlighted by the Kirkus Indie editors. Readers' Favorite gave us the silver five-star seal and the bronze medal and RWYK Certified Great Reads! The best inspiration comes from our readers' reviews and big smiles on little faces.

Writing itself comes from the heart. Children are our most precious gifts and for any one of them to be given less than their peers breaks my heart. I believe all children also have a gift to give. They need the space and opportunity to express their unique purpose in life, to do that thing that only they can. 

During my studies at Madonna University, I heard the story of Alice Cogswell and a thousand other stories throughout history where our educational system or society did not allow d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing folks to thrive. As a result, I am inspired to write with gentle kindness and open doors to children not yet seen or heard. I always share Alice’s story with students at school visits. I believe it also inspires them. When I hear or see children light up seeing or using sign language, I am inspired to keep writing. 

What was the most difficult part of writing this book?

 

The first step! That is always the hardest. To step out and face my fears. Finally, doing something I had dreamed about but knew nothing about and stepping on the scene of Facebook and Instagram. 

You see writing a book and building your social media platform go hand in hand. I wanted nothing to do with social media. All I heard was "the drama" and "be careful." I am delighted to say that on my Instagram I have met so many beautiful people. Other authors, educators, moms, thoughtful people willing to reach out and give a hand and who are making a significant impact in our world with their presence and participation. I am also on Facebook but I find Instagram to be my favorite. I have learned so much writing My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me.

What's next for you? Any events coming up or new books in the works?

 

I have HUGE news coming in December. Unfortunately, I cannot say what it is yet, so subscribe to our website to be the first to hear the exciting top-secret information.

I am currently building our platform with a monthly blog, where we talk about d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing education, share news, insights, and research. In addition, we hope to have some guest authors share insights and resources. 

Our website offers other books I have found and highly recommend. We offer free downloads, and additional educational materials related to My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me, including an ASL alphabet chart so you can begin practicing fingerspelling, which is a great memory-building skill for spelling tests!

My granddaughter, who told everyone I was writing a book, held me accountable to complete it. Together we are working on a story, and my grandson Dylan has a list of stories he believes we should write. 

Please email me for information on school visits or direct bulk sales! We love hearing stories from our readers and would love to hear from you.

 

A little bit about the book . . .

 

Every day brings a new adventure for the curly-haired protagonist as he plays with his favorite shiny purple Monster Truck. He is also learning American Sign Language and knows how to sign the words for his favorite truck's color and sounds. Each page is beautifully illustrated with one or more signs that parents and children can learn together.

A little bit about the author . . .

 

Kathleen Marcath has a B.A. degree in Deaf Community Studies. Years of experience as a special Education Sign language supporter have kindled her passion for helping children reach their educational potential. Kathleen is delighted to help fill the need for picture books illustrated in American Sign Language. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother and resides in Michigan.