We are delighted to introduce you to I Used To Be Shy, an illustrated story with songs about inclusion, belonging, and compassion.It’s Book Two in The Carla Stories. Book One is Sister Butterfly and Book Three, coming in 2023, is Special People. (See more about I Used To Be Shy below.)

RICHMOND
Saturday, June 25 @ noon 
Multicultural Bookstore and Gifts
260 Broadway
(across from the Richmond Civic Center)
RSVP
Note: This event will be outdoors.

EL CERRITO
Saturday, July 16 @ 1 pm
Barnes & Noble
6050 El Cerrito Plaza

We welcome you and your friends to two book launch parties with refreshments and entertainment. Mike will be playing guitar and singing songs, including two from the book.

If you know you’re coming to the Richmond event, RSVP so we can plan for refreshments and chairs. But you can also just show up at the last minute.

I Used to Be Shy

Does your child or grandchild ever sit by themselves — alone and seemingly friendless?

Meet Carla, our self-appointed social committee of one, who makes everyone at summer camp feel welcome. Carla spots a shy new boy who hides from others in his cabin, closing his curtain. Carla follows her heart and gathers a small group of fellow campers to coax him out to play games.

With Carla’s encouragement, our new camper builds up his self-confidence, loses his fear, and learns to enjoy his new friends.

The book includes the lyrics and music notations for “I Used to Be Shy” and “Little Brown Pony.”

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Mike Mirabella, a well-loved musician and award-winning author of children’s books, and Lenny Lipton, writer of the folk song “Puff the Magic Dragon,” sat in their living rooms on rainy days and wrote songs while their young disabled daughters played. 

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR: Amy O’Hanlon is an artist in a family of musicians who illustrates children’s books as well does stage projection design for Bay Area musicals.

Here’s where you can buy the book: books2read.com/used-to-be-shy

We hope to see you at one of our events. If you can’t make it, visit us at mirabellabookswithsongs.com. Best regards,
Mike and Pam Mirabella


 P.S. We’d love it if you shared these event with friends, family members and grandparents who might be interested.