Shark and Turtle: A Tale of Friendship

In the blue-green waters of Sponge Town lives a smart and funny Whale Shark and a fearless and curious Green Sea Turtle. Sharks and turtles had never been friends, but when Shark and Turtle become friends, it opens everyone's hearts and minds to the possibilities of friendship. Thanks to Shark and Turtle, they learn that friendship is always possible - no matter how unlikely it may seem at first.

Soleil Alise Richards is a young girl with a big heart and an even bigger imagination. When she was just nine years old, Soleil came up with the idea for her first book, Shark and Turtle: A Tale of Two Friends. The story follows a Whale shark and a Green Sea turtle as they move beyond old traditions and teach their town the power of friendship. Soleil loves making friends and enjoys reading whether it be historical events or biographies of famous people. She likes playing story roles, reading, role-playing, and fashion design; in fact, she dreams of becoming a world-renowned fashion designer someday. Shel enjoys spending time with her family on movie nights, making slime (her latest obsession), and creating characters in virtual spaces. Soleil is an inspiration to all who know her. What makes her unique is her passion for justice and equality. She was 9 years old when she came up with the idea for her story and included the theme of segregation because she believes it still matters in today's conversations about unity and relationships. She also enjoys singing and is learning Spanish so that she can converse with more people around the world.

Dr. Rhonda M. Bryant is a nationally recognized expert in mental health counseling. Licensed as a professional counselor in Georgia and Virginia, she has worked in K-12, higher education, military, and community settings providing counseling, consultation, and mediation to persons recovering from multi-generational trauma, substance use, and mental health challenges. Dr. Bryant also holds national certification as a professional counselor, professional school counselor, and certified clinical mental health counselor.

Shani Richards is the founder and publisher of Books Here, Books There Publishing, a children's book author, homeschooling mom, and creator of courses and programs to support people on their publishing and purpose journeys. She grew up with a love for books and is the author of the highly acclaimed bedtime story "Sleep Fight, Sleep Tight: How Sleep Fighting Babies Go Night Night" designed to inspire safe sleep habits and be a part of sweet sleep-time memories for families. Originally from California, she lives on the East Coast with her husband Dwight and unschools their two youngest children.