Accolades for my twin daughters, Marnie and Rena Schwartz!
- Susan Schwartz
Reviews by ADVANCE READERS re: "Another Monkey? A heartwarming story for ages 3 to 8 about love, gift-giving, and sharing"
- Susan Schwartz
“This book is absolutely heartwarming—the power of a stuffed animal! The illustrations are priceless and even more meaningful since the author's grandchildren drew the pictures. What a sweet book for all!”
—Sharon Freedman, Educational Tutor, Retired Teacher/Occasional Teacher, TDSB & York Region District School Board (YRDSB)
"Another Monkey?" is a standout resource for young readers and a valuable asset for primary educators, parents, and grandparents. This delightful book explores essential themes such as friendship, problem solving, and teamwork, and fosters discussions on diversity, equity, and inclusion, critical topics that shape students' attitudes and behaviors. The rhythmic and repetitive text supports emergent readers, making the reading experience interactive and beneficial for early literacy development. The vibrant illustrations created by the author’s grandchildren not only captivate but also inspire young readers to see themselves as potential illustrators. By emphasizing the sharing of stories across generations, the
book enriches children's learning experiences and instills a respect for family history and its valuable lessons. This connection between literacy, life lessons, and family ties makes this book a powerful tool for both education and personal growth.”
“This engaging children's book supports and promotes early reading and literacy (reading, writing, and sharing) as well as visual arts (drawing, illustrations, creativity). I appreciate the original artwork created by the author’s grandchildren. I love that each one signed their monkey illustration on the page where their monkey is first introduced. This can become a talking point for readers—recognizing the importance of artists’ work, just as authors are recognized for their writing. This cumulative pattern book demonstrates sound pedagogy (emphasizing the repetition of words and phrases, manners, new vocabulary, counting, colors, community locations/stores, and more), while the story honors friendships, love, and family, both present and those in our hearts. The “AFTERWORD” adds to the book’s richness and usefulness. This book is a feel-good, fun, interactive reading experience, presented as a sample of what adults and children can do together. It brings to life the value of encouraging children and adults of all ages to become authors and illustrators.”
“This is a story to engage you and children close to you as a parent, grandparent, family, teacher or caring person. You follow 4-year-old Michael, Monkeyin, and their adventures as Michael acquires more and more monkeys. The illustrations created by the author's grandchildren draw you in as Michael's bookshelf becomes crowded. It’s a book to be shared just as Michael did with his monkeys. The story and illustrations lend themselves to conversational questions both thick and thin: What leads us to collect and treasure a possession as Michael still does with Monkeyin? It is a delightful read as told by a skilled educator, mother, and grandmother.”
“I loved this book! It's fun, sincere, colourful, and presents complex values in a simple meaningful way. It reaches out to include so many concepts and values. It would be a terrific 'read to' for the school I was working with when on a mission trip to Jamaica—thus it certainly is cross-cultural! The numbering and repetition would appeal to younger children—I could almost hear myself singing along to the various verses! So many teachable moments here! I would love to get a copy and use it in my church with the young ones in Children's Ministry. It aligns nicely with the "Fruit of the Spirit"—"Love, Joy, Kindness, Gentleness, Goodness." The illustrations done by the author's grandchildren make it extra special! This book would be a great read for all ages—and works to encourage teachers to publish works of their students! Congratulations!”
“I adored reading this charming story “Another Monkey?” and can't wait to share it with my grandchildren! As a retired kindergarten and Special Education teacher, I want to share this with my grandkids and all my friends! The illustrations are so special by the author's grandkids and the story itself has limitless applications in the classroom or in family discussions. All the qualities we want to instill in our children are in this magical story. It speaks of kindness and sharing and friendship between people and if you probe a little deeper you will uncover many tips on how we should treat each other in our lives. Congrats to Dr. Susan Schwartz for sharing her son's story and helping us all remember the important lessons of life.”
“I just read the book, “Another Monkey” and I absolutely loved it. It actually brought tears to my eyes. The author mentioned all the special people in her life! How beautiful is that? This book will be fun to read to a class. Most kids can relate to having a special stuffed animal. I loved the repetition, the idea of gratitude when receiving a gift, and demonstrating sharing and kindness to one’s friends. A kindergarten teacher can easily use it for counting, teaching colours, and the 5 senses. Just wonderful!
—Judy Micner, Retired Teacher, Occasional Teacher, TDSB
“This very personal story makes so much sense for beginning readers and young children, and also for second language learners. I love the style of the six little monkeys—the repetition, the language building from the previous pages, the teaching of colors and community locations, and more. Including art by the six grandchildren is so unique and will appeal to all children to help them see themselves as artists and illustrators. Highly recommend and am looking forward to buying three copies!”
REVIEWS about the Author’s Visit . . .
“We really appreciated Dr. Susan Schwartz presenting her children’s book and doing the 8-page book art and writing follow-up activity with our 32 campers at Camp Lifeline, a Project of Chai Lifeline Canada. It was such an amazing workshop! It’s so important for our campers to feel empowered and validated! Thank you very very much for coming!”
“By the end of the read-aloud, my students were able to confidently chant along and read so many of the words. They participated well in the discussions and asked insightful questions. We were intrigued with the fact that it was a true story, and the author’s grandkids had drawn the illustrations. We all enjoyed the follow-up activity making paper craft monkeys and pop-out books. I was also thrilled by her presentations and follow-up activities at Camp ViBE with different ages of campers. I highly recommend her as an engaging guest speaker and very much appreciated the opportunity to be involved in this enriching experience!”
VERY EXCITING NEWS!! COMING SOON! Wowowow!
- Susan Schwartz
Announcing an engaging TABLE TALK Activity - accessed via the QR Code on the last page of the book, EMPOWER YOUR ViBE!
- Susan Schwartz
If you have a copy of Marnie and Rena’s self-help book, EMPOWER YOUR ViBE, Igniting Your Passion, Purpose, and Brand to Unleash Your Unstoppable Best Self, you know they have included “Questions to ask yourself” at the end of each chapter, and using these same questions, they have also made available a free gift of a downloadable JOURNAL with lines to write on to help readers with their transformative journey. This JOURNAL is accessed via the link or QR Code on the last page of their book.
Well, NOW, the authors have made available another BONUS free gift! This time, it's a TABLE TALK Activity, using the same questions and also accessed via the same link or QR Code.
They invite you to engage in this activity with your children, family, friends, students, staff, colleagues, or peers to encourage THINKING, TALKING, and SHARING.
HOW to do this activity?
- Print the TABLE TALK Activity file (one-sided only—not front to back).
- Cut up the questions into QUESTION CARDS. Each question includes the title of the chapter from which that question originated in the book, EMPOWER YOUR ViBE (to provide some context from the book).
- Shuffle the total pile of questions OR put the questions from each chapter together into separate piles OR select the questions you wish to use.
- Each participant, one at a time, selects a QUESTION CARD from the pile, or you, as the moderator, can select the card for each participant. (You may want to select the questions based on what you know about each individual OR you can select cards associated with each chapter to focus the conversations on specific topics as based on the chapters in the book.)
- Each participant READS the question aloud to the group, THINKS about how it RELATES to his/her specific knowledge and experiences, and then RESPONDS to the question while everyone listens.
- As the moderator, you may want to ask others to provide feedback, ask questions, and add their related thoughts, and you may want to add your thoughts too.
AFTER engaging in this activity, discuss as a group:
- What stands out as being important? What was reinforced for you? What is your biggest takeaway?
- What goals can you set to become more unstoppable?
- What support might you need to accomplish your goals (books, online resources, courses, family, friends, professional help, other?).
- How can you celebrate your accomplishments and bring more happiness and joy into your lives?
WHEN to do this activity?
- With your family or friends, after dinner in your home or in a restaurant.
- As an activity at a party or social gathering.
- If you are a teacher, teacher educator, or camp counsellor, with your colleagues and/or students or campers.
- As an employer, manager, or leader, during a staff meeting, conference, or with a small group.
- As members of a book club on Zoom or face-to-face, read the book or specific chapters, and do the Table Talk Activity.
- Other?
My daughters and I, and others we know, have tried this activity in several different situations with children and adults, ages 10 to 90, and it works sooooo well!
Please let us know WHEN and HOW you use it. We would love to hear from you! You can contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Here’s some REVIEWS:
Highly recommend this TABLE TALK Activity! I participated in this activity at a friend's house after dinner and it was fun and quite enlightening. Each question was presented on a strip of paper, and it encouraged one person at a time to think about his/her own life and respond. It was fun to reflect on my question and then answer it in the group. I also really enjoyed hearing everyone else's responses, which also got me thinking about my life and experiences. Great activity! - Josh Rosenzweig
A wonderful activity! I was at a family dinner and just before dessert, we played this activity with everyone at the table, including my ten-year-old granddaughter. It was so interesting to hear everyone’s answers. I found it so enjoyable, and I learned a lot too. It’s a great way to get everyone to talk and share. I’m planning to try it with my students when I get the opportunity while supply teaching. I think it will be excellent as an introductory activity to spark thinking and discussion. - Diane Deutsch
Soooo if you have a copy of the transformative self-help book, EMPOWER YOUR ViBE, be sure to go to the last page of the book to download and print the TABLE TALK Activity, and if you don't have your copy yet, it is available on Amazon and other platforms. Check out the information at: www.linktr.ee/marnie_and_rena
Announcing the new transformational self-help book: EMPOWER YOUR ViBE
- Susan Schwartz
When high-energy identical twin sisters take their passion and purpose to the next level, the result is an undeniable vibe! Since 2002, Marnie and Rena Schwartz have positively influenced countless numbers of children and their families through their inclusive and non-competitive dance school, teaching invaluable life and leadership lessons as well as dance. Overcoming family and business challenges, and with vulnerability and open heartedness, these visionary entrepreneurs demonstrate how they turned their dreams into reality. Emphasizing celebrations and learning, they highlight effective strategies and challenge and enrich readers' views about personal, business, product, and author branding. At the end of each chapter, they ask thought-provoking questions to encourage goal setting and the re-evaluation of mindsets and actions. As a bonus gift, readers can download the EMPOWER YOUR ViBE JOURNAL to enhance their transformative journey. In everything they say and do, these inspiring leaders share how to move forward in life and business in a fulfilling way, illuminating the path to a brighter future. Get ready to EMPOWER YOUR ViBE.
Here are some of the book's FEATURES:
- A transformational self-help book to encourage readers to ignite their passion, purpose, and brand to unleash their unstoppable best selves.
- Insights for readers about personal, business, product, and author BRANDING.
- Motivation and inspiration to encourage positive change.
- Effective coping strategies to better face and overcome obstacles in life and business.
- Important messages about respect, inclusion, accessibility, leadership, confidence, perseverance, positivity, and optimism.
- The importance of celebrations and lifelong learning.
- Information about grief and mourning, including the difference between "moving on" versus "moving forward."
- A focus on mental health and wellness and seeking support when necessary.
- A concrete apprenticeship model of leadership involving mentorship, role modeling, expectations, responsibility, and giving and receiving feedback.
- The sharing of their researched Cartwheel mat--providing an example of how to invent and market a product.
- The sharing of the authors' writing and publishing process with pros and cons about different types of publishing and advice for authors.
- Thought-provoking "Questions to ask yourself" at the end of each chapter to encourage reflection, goal setting, and positive change.
- A free bonus gift of a downloadable EMPOWER YOUR ViBE JOURNAL accessed by clicking on the link or scanning the QR Code in the book.
Co-authors, Marnie and Rena Schwartz, are the charismatic co-owners/artistic directors of ViBE Dance and Fitness Studio (www.vibestudio.ca), the co-researchers/inventors of the CARTWHIRLER™ Cartwheel Mat (www.cartwhirler.com), and the co-authors of The ViBE Confidence-Building Series For Kids, Ages 7 to 12. With extensive experience in the dance and entertainment industry, and as Vaughan's Accessibility Champion Award Recipients, 2021, Ontario-certified teachers, and engaging motivational speakers, their messages of respect, inclusion, leadership, confidence, perseverance, and optimism go a long way to helping you to build your brand and EMPOWER YOUR ViBE.
Advance Readers' Praise for 'EMPOWER YOUR ViBE'
- Susan Schwartz
Here's what some Advance Readers have to say about the book:
“I highly recommend the book, EMPOWER YOUR ViBE. I first met the authors, Marnie and Rena Schwartz, in the year 2000 when I wrote an article about them for the National Post called, Spot the Twins. They inspired me then and they continue to do that today! I am awed at their inclusive non-competitive ViBE dance school, their new researched invention, the CARTWHIRLER™ cartwheel mat, and their multiple writing projects, all going on at the same time! This book captures it all: their personal dramas and life and business challenges, their optimism and successes, and their concrete strategies and goals to help others! This is a must-read!!” —Rebecca Eckler, Author of multiple books as well as Founder of www.rebooks.ca and RE:books Publishing House
"The best way to learn the value of personal branding is to see it in action — and in this case times two! That Marnie and Rena understand what it takes to identify 'your vibe' is great. The fact that they are doing it together is fascinating. In a world of faux-influencer brands big on sizzle but light on steak, it's wonderful to meet and learn from two such dynamic and authentic people. But watch out — their megawatt energy is liable to excite you to the point that you get off your butt and start doing all of this stuff for yourself — which is reason enough to get the book right there." —DP Knudten, Author of NONFICTION BRAND, Discover, craft and nbsp;communicate the ‘completely true/completely you’ brand you already are, and the engaging host of the NONFICTION BRAND podcast.
Exciting NEWS: Marnie & Rena Schwartz’ BIO and information about GUEST SPEAKING!
- Susan Schwartz
Exciting NEWS:
My identical twin daughters and innovative entrepeneurs, Marnie and Rena Schwartz, have launched their non-fiction transformational self-help book on Amazon!
They dedicated their book to their late dad, Saul Schwartz, and to cancer research, and they shared their life and business story with openheartedness and vulnerability. As their "most influential role model," they also included my entire life story.
I wrote the Foreword to their book and was their editor and coach, helping them to achieve their dreams of becoming authors.
Here is their BIO:
Marnie and Rena Schwartz are:
- Co-Owners/Artistic Directors of ViBE Dance and Fitness Studio in Thornhill, Ontario www.vibestudio.ca
- Co-Researchers/Inventors of the CARTWHIRLER™ Cartwheel Mat and accessories (available on Amazon or at www.cartwhirler.com)
- Professional Dancers and Choreographers
- Ontario-certified Teachers and Kinesiologists
- Vaughan's Accessibility Champion Award Recipients, 2021
- Co-Authors of THE ViBE CONFIDENCE-BUILDING SERIES FOR KIDS, Ages 7 to 12 (available on Amazon):
- Book #1: YOU CAN DRAW CARTWHEELS
- Book #2: I CAN CARTWHEEL
- Book #3: FEEL THE ViBE at CAMP
- Book #4: FEEL THE ViBE From A to Z
- Co-Authors of EMPOWER YOUR ViBE, Igniting Your Passion, Purpose, and Brand to Unleash Your Unstoppable Best Self
- Podcast guests and motivational speakers
Strategies for the Interview Process – Using a Framework for a Dynamic Interview
- Susan Schwartz
Luckily, her coaching worked, and after my next interview for a consultant position, I was successful! I was elated! I attributed my success to my new knowledge about how to answer interview questions, as well as to my new-found confidence in responding. I appreciated my good friend sharing her strategies and taking the time to coach me for the interview process. (Thank you so much, Kim!!)
A few years later, after co-writing the 1st edition my book Retelling, Relating, Reflecting: Beyond the 3 R’s with Maxine Bone, I realized that our 3 R’s framework was similar to Kim’s coaching model and worked extremely well when addressing questions during an interview. (The 3 R's framework works well as a reading response strategy, as well as an assessment strategy, and in many other classroom and real-life situations.)
Are you ready to turn your upcoming job search into a secured position?
- Susan Schwartz
Dr. Susan Schwartz (author/mentor, writer/publisher, teacher educator/former principal) is offering coaching, mentoring, resume and cover letter editing, and MORE!
Build CONFIDENCE in your employment process with personalized support!
NOW is the time to take the right steps towards your future in the education system!
NOTE: The strategies shared can be adapted and useful for securing a position in any field.
Outcomes:
- You will gain greater confidence and skill during your application and interview process.
- Your application package (cover letter, resume) will receive feedback and a thorough edit.
- You will learn skills in mastering the interview process, such as learning to use a practical "framework for a dynamic interview", and understanding the difference between an okay and an exemplary full and dynamic answer while on the “hot seat”
- You will gain greater understanding about the occasional teaching role and ways to begin in a new classroom or school, whether in a face-to-face, online classroom, or combination of the two.
- Overall, you will learn invaluable lessons from one-on-one support, personalized feedback, practical strategies, and MORE!
Susan writes about Jim Kwik’s work: Limitless: Upgrade your brain, learn anything faster, and unlock your exceptional life (Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, or Hay House, USA)
- Susan Schwartz
