Siwinski Deborah Siwinski of Flora has written a children's book series called "The Adventures of Teddy and Freddy."

The four-part series will feature a new adventure for every season. The first one came out earlier this year and is called "Summer Safari." The next one will have a fall theme.

"Summer Safari" is about fiveyear old, freckle-faced Teddy, and his best friend - his cat, Freddy. They go on a "jungle" adventure and encounter "wild animals."

"Teddy is a touch of my son, Stephen, who was a very adventuresome and imaginative child," Siwinski said. Stephen is now 22.

The adventure series takes place in the countryside of England. Siwinski said she chose England because that's where her dad's family was from.

"My dad and Winston Churchill were second cousins," she said.

Siwinski has written stories for family and friends before, and even put some of them on CDs, but she said "Summer Safari" is her first published book. Apaperback, it was published by Lifevest Publishing Inc., Centennial, Colo.

Siwinski said she started writing the book as a kind of therapy, but then got hooked on the experience.

"I love to play in the children's world," she said. "Writing is a wonderful place to play and relax. It's a good quiet time for the brain, and still offers something to someone else."

Although any age can enjoy S i w i n s k i ' s book, she said it is mostly a r e a d t o m e book. Since her own two children are grown, and her three grandchildren

have been reading on their own for awhile now, she tried her book out on a three-year-old family friend. Siwinski says confidently that her book is "Molly-tested and Molly-approved."

Siwinski decided to do her own illustrations for her book series.

"I decided if it's going to be from the heart, it's going to be from the hand, too," she said. Siwinski added that she's still learning illustration as she goes along.

"Children can relate to my drawings," she said with a grin.

She dedicated her first book to her children, grandchildren, Molly, and her husband, Steve.

While she is tweaking the series' next three stories and illustrations, Siwinski said she is also working on a children's poetry book to be entitled "Fairies, Frogs, and Fantasies." She is hoping it will come out in July.

Siwinski has given a copy of "Summer Safari" to the Flora-Monroe Public Library. It can also be ordered on line at www.authorstobelievein.com.

Siwinski has the summer off from her regular job. She teaches keyboarding and beginning computers application at Delphi Community Middle School.