MOUSE TOWER PUBLICATIONS
WELCOMES YOU
Collaborating For Your Book's Success
At Mouse Tower Publications, Dr. Nancy Lapointe specializes in helping authors share their words with the public. Lapointe collaborates with people who want to publish titles in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats. Nancy also writes, edits, and proofreads content for websites, dissertations, dating sites, pamphlets, and other personal and business publications.
LEN HERNANDEZ
Illustator
Len Hernandez, a San Antonio, Texas native, has lived and worked as a professional artist throughout the country. His credits include book illustrator and airbrush, portrait, and tattoo artist. His professional career spans thirty years. When he isn’t creating art, Len is playing with his puppies, wrangling dolphins, watching The Office, or daydreaming about retiring on Kauai with his lovely wife, Barb. Hernandez loves himself a nice cup of coffee. Mmmm, coffee. And sharks—he loves sharks.
NANCY LAPOINTE
Author
Nancy Lapointe grew up wild and poor in small- town Mason City, Iowa. Stuck in a snowbank once too often, she migrated to South Texas, solo- parenting her four children.
Working as a bartender, high school English teacher, college adjunct professor, motivational speaker, and educational software developer, Lapointe financed her education, culminating in a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M Corpus Christi/Kingsville.
Deemed controversial for her avant-garde teaching methods, Dr. Lapointe spent many hours in the principal’s office. Finally, Harold E. Butt, grocery store magnate, validated her approach by naming her H-E-B Texas State Teacher of the Year. She tells other stories in her two novels, screenplay, and Sparky’s Big News, a children’s book with an important message about growing up gay.
Nancy celebrates her retirement in Escondido, California, fussing at her blue-eyed banditti grandsons and recycling vintage earrings. She and her loving partner, John Dinning, grow oranges in a forty-tree grove and force fruit on friends and food banks.
NEW IN PRINT
SPARKY'S BIG NEWS
Nancy Lapointe Ed.D.
Illustrator: Len Hernandez
Set on the south Texas coast, this coming-of-age story follows Sparky as he discovers his core identity. Sparky's mom and sister support his journey from toddler through college age.
Brilliant illustrations by Len Hernandez highlight the differences between cis-gender heterosexual child's play and LGBTQ+ child's play. Growing up gay is nurtured and celebrated in Sparky's family, paralleling the author's experience raising a gay son.
Enjoy a fun, colorful romp through the kind of diverse family that defines our best America.
WHAT READERS SAY ABOUT SPARKY'S BIG NEWS
Charlotte Templeton, Ph.D. Professor of English, retired
"Sparky in Nancy Lapointe’s Sparky’s Big News is a delightful character who prefers dolls to trucks and chooses 'lady clothes' when costumes are in order. He’s sensitive but willing to punch out a boy who taunts him. (His mother is torn, opposed to fighting but proud of her son for standing up for himself.) He is pretty much at peace with himself and fortunate to have a supportive and understanding family. His mother’s mantra is 'Play with the toys you like' or in other words: 'Be yourself.” She assures him that he can decide his gender identity and reveal it when he is ready.
This book has a light touch when dealing with the darker side, such bullies. Life has challenges, but with the right attitude and the necessary courage, one can flourish. In truth, the challenges are pretty easily conquered, which may be appropriate for a story for young children.
The story demolishes certain myths and assumptions about gay people. When Sparky’s grandfather suggests that a boy who can arrange an artistic relish tray may be gay, Sparky reminds him that he likes to grow flowers, even though he is a grandpa.
This is a good book for parents and adults . Advice for parents: let your children find their path to gender identity and support them on the journey.
The illustrations by Len Hernandez do a great deal to carry the book. They establish the attitude that life is a romp. The drawings give us figures that are active, cheerful and energetic in their approach to life. Noteworthy is the artist’s ability to render various active stances and facial expressions.This is an interesting book for children and adults
Kat Dinning, Co-host of Out Podcast
Sparky’s Big News is a beautiful story of a mother’s whole-hearted acceptance of her child. This could very well translate into a guidebook for how to treat a child who is questioning their sexually. Bravo!
Tim Turner, Ph.D. Associate Professor of English
"I love Sparky's Big News! The book is a warm and wonderfully illustrated account of a child's voyage of self- discovery. Positive descriptions of growing up gay are hard to find in children's books and popular media, but this is a wonderful new entry in the genre.Parents will love the gentle was it guides young readers through Sparky's journey, and, in fact, some of those same parents might learn a few things, too! I can't recommend it enough."
Mrs. Natalie Malone, mother of two young girls
"What a wonderful book! Every parent or guardian should read it to their children. The world would be a much better place if everyone had nurturing families like Sparky’s. Sexual orientation is a personal choice, and can only be decided by an individual. Every child who is still deciding deserves to have support and praise from their family."
Christa Gallego, mother of three young boys, writer, social influencer
This is a brightly illustrated, simple, comic-style book that is easy to read with kids and gives a great prompt for conversations about sexual identity.
A boy named Sparky is a little bit different than everyone else, but what does that actually mean? Sparky's Big News dives into all the questions he has about his sexual orientation and how it impacts the people around him.
My favorite part about this book are the people. The family that surrounds Sparky want the best for him but are unsure how to respond to him. This book gives clear answers to familiar questions we all ask ourselves when it comes to judging another person's sexual identity. The message of this book is astoundingly clear, no one decides that for anyone--they can only do it for themselves.
F. Bradley Jessop, Ed.D. Professor of Art
"This book is an insightful description of how Sparkey finds his own way. It models a nonjudgmental and supportive means of acceptance in dealing with non-traditional gender roles and growing up. Lovingly told and beautifully illustrated, it adds another voice to the chorus of helpful texts that assist LGBTQ+ children and their parents."
Vanessa Cantu Trammell, teacher, mother
"Sparky's Big News is an inspiring read about a little boy that has a strong and loving support system from his mom. I love how the book takes you on a little journey of his life and some of the obstacles he encounters. Readers gain the insight that loving your children unconditionally and accepting who they are will guide them to be the person they are meant to be. Kudos to the author, Dr. Nancy Lapointe! She is an amazing and beautiful person with a whole lot of love!"
“There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away”
Emily Dickinson
ORIGIN OF THE COMPANY NAME
The Children's Hour
The Children's Hour
Between the dark and the daylight,
When the night is beginning to lower,
Comes a pause in the day's occupations,
That is known as the Children's Hour.
I hear in the chamber above me
The patter of little feet,
The sound of a door that is opened,
And voices soft and sweet.
From my study I see in the lamplight,
Descending the broad hall stair,
Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra,
And Edith with golden hair.
A whisper, and then a silence:
Yet I know by their merry eyes
They are plotting and planning together
To take me by surprise.
A sudden rush from the stairway,
A sudden raid from the hall!
By three doors left unguarded
They enter my castle wall!
They climb up into my turret
O'er the arms and back of my chair;
If I try to escape, they surround me;
They seem to be everywhere.
They almost devour me with kisses,
Their arms about me entwine,
Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen
In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine!
Do you think, O blue-eyed banditti,
Because you have scaled the wall,
Such an old mustache as I am
Is not a match for you all!
I have you fast in my fortress,
And will not let you depart,
But put you down into the dungeon
In the round-tower of my heart.
And there will I keep you forever,
Yes, forever and a day,
Till the walls shall crumble to ruin,
And moulder in dust away!