Mom’s Choice Awards is excited to announce another post in our interview series where we chat with the inventors, designers, publishers, and others behind some of our favorite family-friendly products.

Hello, Mom’s Choice readers, today we have a very special treat for all of you! We sat down with five-time Mom’s Choice Award-winning author Jodi Dee and talked a little bit with her about one of her most recent award-winning books, The Little Green Jacket! Based on true events, a little green jacket travels through the lives of different children, who live in very different places, and ends up on the other side of the world after a natural disaster. With realistic and stunning detailed black and white illustrations, readers will get to see how the little green jacket experiences being a donation and the importance, power, and magic of giving! Keep reading to find out more about Jodi Dee and be sure to check out all of her other MCA award-winning books, including Yes, I See You, Create a Home of Learning, Jesse True Collection: Books 1-4, and The Dirt Girl!

The covers for all of author Jodi Dee’s MCA award-winning books!

MCA: Hi Jodi, thank you so much for joining us today, and a huge congratulations on all of your Mom’s Choice Awards! All of your books are such a delight to read with each one teaching such important lessons to readers of all ages. I’d first like to start the interview by getting to know a little bit more about the author behind such creative and diverse books! 

Jodi: I have been a serial entrepreneur for two decades ranging from software start-ups to real estate development projects, but have always loved early childhood and working with children.

MCA: That is quite a transition from software and real estate to a multi-award-winning children’s book author! The Little Green Jacket is a delightful story that is based on true events. Can you tell us what those events were that led to you writing The Little Green Jacket?

Jodi: I have always believed in recycling, from the side of sharing resources and giving away what you don’t need. When I was young getting a bag of clothes from older cousins was like Christmas morning, and even my children who grew up more well off than I did as a child, had the same experience. We have so much abundance in our world if we can just find a way to share it more. The Little Green Jacket was written to inspire children to not only help the environment by keeping clothes out of landfills but to understand that each product has a life of its own- and they can be part of it.

MCA: That is such an important message and one Mom’s Choice can definitely get behind! Speaking of important messages, can you tell us some that can be found within The Little Green Jacket?

Jodi: That community, sharing, and recycling matter.

A child reading one of Jodi Dee’s award-winning books, The Dirt Girl!

MCA: Tell us more about why you wished to stress the significance of sustainability and recycling in The Little Green Jacket?

Jodi: We all have more than we need, and beyond keeping the earth clean we should learn to give away what we don’t use or need to someone who can use it.

MCA: There has been an outpouring of online love and support for The Little Green Jacket since its original publishing. Can you tell us more about what the response has been like for you?

Jodi: Absolute love! The story resonates with children and many start a giving bag after reading the story. Many also wonder where their old toys and clothing have gone, and what stories they may have.

MCA: If you could ensure readers of your book walk away with one main lesson, what would it be?

Jodi: Giving is the thread that weaves us together.

MCA: That is most certainly is! Thank you for taking your time to sit with us and we are so excited to see what comes next from you! 

You can learn more about Jodi Dee and her award-winning book, The Little Green Jacket by visiting their MCA Shop pages.