THE TANGLELOWS – new children’s book from acclaimed author GREG McGOON – available 3/15

 

Traveling the Twisting Troubling Tanglelows’ Trail, the lyrically-written and lushly-illustrated new children’s book by Greg McGoon, will be released on March 15 from Pelekenis Publishing Group. McGoon caused a sensation with his previous book The Royal Heart – celebrated as the world’s first fairy tale with a transgender princess – which was called “magical” by MTV News, “powerful” by The Huffington Post, and “fantastic” by Seventeen Magazine. This premiere book featuring The Tanglelows, the first installment in a series, teaches children how to navigate their feelings and encourages abstract thought, while giving families a tool for voicing their emotions. The Tanglelows, illustrated by Jessa Orr, has already been hailed as “a great family read” which “stimulates rich discussion” by Dr. Mary Baker-Ericzén of the Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, who also called it “a useful tool for psychologists to use in treatment.”

Inspired by fantastical yet educational family classics by Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss, The Tanglelows uses vibrant graphics, elegant language, entertaining rhymes and quirky rhythms. The book journeys inside your mind to meet the creatures that tangle your thoughts, creating clutter and confusion. The story explores feelings of self-worth, anxiety and depression through the Tanglelows’ twisting and turning behavior.  The Tanglelows serve as a tool to acknowledge feelings that may inhibit motivation, while giving kids a playful way to work through the tangles that might be blocking them from full self-expression.

“The Tanglelows can be friends or foes, creatures that adapt to how we behave,” reflected McGoon. “This book recognizes both the hardships and the growth a person can face. The Tanglelows came to me as a personal discovery after experiences that caused me to question myself. Recognizing the Tanglelows inside my own mind allowed me to navigate through my doubts, and help me understand my own strength.”

The Royal Heart, McGoon’s 2015 book, is a traditionally-structured fairy tale that features a transgender character and was designed to embrace the universal themes of acceptance, love and leadership. The book was named among “20 Great Gifts for Kids of All Ages” by The Advocate, called “utterly charming” by Refinery29.com and received feature coverage in Details Magazine, Metro UK and beyond. The book follows the story of Lyric, who was born male to the king and queen. But Lyric doesn’t feel like a boy and worries about ruling the land as the king his parents want him to be. In the end, family bonds triumph over doubt and together they grow stronger. And they all lived Happily, with love. The Royal Heart is the first in a collection of McGoon’s fairy tales to feature LGBT characters.

GREG McGOON is an author and stage actor with a degree in psychology from the University of San Diego. He attended the Claremont School of Theatre Arts as a child and was later an instructor with the program. Greg is the Founder and Executive Director of Artcentricity Inc., a non-profit children’s creative arts experience focused on child development. His books explore children’s feelings about themselves and the world around them. He is a performer with the National Drama Troupe in Ghana and leads workshops with the California State Thespian Festival. www.GregMcGoon.com

PELEKINESIS is an independent book publishing company focusing on the development of literary-minded authors and artists by embracing the evolving publishing paradigm and creatively supporting the skills of talented writers. www.Pelekenis.com