Ozzy Ox

Have you ever hidden a bag of candy--your very own "just in case" stash of sweet relief? So did Ozzy Ox, the rollicking character in this delightful rhyming children's picture book. Candy Stash is the first in the Ozzy Ox series, which follows the adventures of this lovable young ox as he learns about everyday life situations. Teaching through storytelling helps children reflect on their own experiences and process the consequences of their own behaviors, encouraging thoughtful change to reach positive outcomes. The Ozzy Ox rhyming picture book series weaves together engaging social emotional learning with everyday life lessons.

In Ozzy Ox: Candy Stash, Ozzy Ox and his MomOx return home in the OxCar after a trip to get groceries to make a cake for tomorrow's special visitor. While helping his mother like a good and thoughtful son, Ozzy finds the candy that MomOx intended as a topping for Papa's special cake. He first stashes the candy in his room and later devours it, only to have a tummy ache from both indigestion and a guilty conscience. Will he sweet talk his way out of this dilemma? Share this engaging story with your children--and find out together how Ozzy Ox fares, and what life lessons he learns from his transgressions, in this delightful debut picture book.

Follow-up titles include Ozzy Ox Toy Trauma, Ozzy Ox Moody Morning, and Ozzy Ox Takes a Stand Against Socks. The series brings a relatable and resourceful story to families and educators of young children looking to have a dialogue about typical childhood dilemmas and challenges and how to navigate them positively. Lasting takeaways are making good choices and admitting mistakes when they make them -- and that life's everyday difficulties can best be overcome by honesty, acceptance and forgiveness.

Callen Kropp is a North Dakota author whose family has raised bison (a cousin of the oxen family!) for decades. After a career in corporate communications in which she wrote every kind of article, feature story, editorial, column, and publication, she pursued her lifelong dream of writing books. Adventures with her family, including children and grandchildren, provide unending inspiration for Callen's rhyming Ozzy Ox picture book series. When not in her corner office writing, Callen loves photography and traveling. She and her husband spend time each winter in Gold Canyon, AZ. Her bucket list includes visiting all US National Parks, and she loves taking their grandchildren to destinations they choose.So far, none of them, however, has chosen the Land of Oxen. They are happy to just read about in Ozzy books!

Born in Medelia, Minn., Emily grew up in Fargo, N. Dak., where she began painting as a teen. She paints on a variety of surfaces using a wide array of mediums, but especially enjoys illustrating children's books. As a busy wife, mother and grandmother, Emily knows the joy that picture books bring to children. A passionate lake lover, Emily enjoys time with family and friends at their Minnesota summer cabin. Her West Fargo home is a testament to her passion for painting and art; she has also adorned her backyard chicken coop with vibrant designs for the flock of chickens she fondly calls "her girls."