HOW THE STARABELLA AUDIO PICTURE BOOKS WITH MUSIC MEET THE GOALS OF SOCIAL and EMOTIONAL LEARNING

STARABELLA

for kids 2-8

By Sharon Fialco, Tara Fialco and Dana Fialco Masters –

a mom and two daughters

Through three award-winning, fully narrated audio picture books, with uplifting music and accompanying vibrant illustrations, Starabella tells the story of a determined, musically talented little girl with learning differences. Her eyes shine like stars when she’s happy! Does Starabella have a special connection to the stars? IT’S A MYSTERY.

Children make an emotional connection with Starabella the minute they open to page one of the first picture book in the series, with its expressive illustrations as the audio begins. They hear a baby crying then babbling sweetly in the background of the gentle narration, all underscored with music. Some comments of many from parents and teachers include: “I’ve never experienced anything like the Starabella book series. Experiencing these books appeal to your visual, auditory, and emotional senses.” “Superb illustrations and lively music drive the narration and the story, which makes the Starabella experience both auditory and visual to reach many children of all learning styles and abilities.” “ Treat the books more like an event than simply something to read. The whole presentation has been created to be entertaining and fun for the readers, even while they are learning so much.” “Love shines through the stories.” 

In Book One, “Starabella: Mystery Girl of Music” they visit Starabella as a baby and young toddler in the privacy of her home. In Book Two, “Starabella: New Adventures and Mixed Emotions” they join her when she is a little older, out in the community. Children who listen to and view Books One and Two celebrate Starabella’s accomplishments, feel compassion for her extra challenges, root for her to reach her goals, and gain understanding of her emotions through her music. They acquire empathy for her by the time she enters kindergarten as a member of a diverse kindergarten classroom in Book Three, “Starabella: Welcome to a Bright New World.”

Children transfer the empathy they form for Starabella to others. In Book Three they meet Starabella’s classmates, a cross-section of lively children of different races, religions, attitudes, cognitive and physical challenges, abilities and dreams. They often relate to one or a combination of the characters. Children are offered a unique, way to solve familiar social conflict and bullying issues that arise in Starabella’s class. They interact with the story by making social decisions from multiple choices offered by Starabella’s teacher. They are aided by viewing their reflections in a “Magical Mirror” found in the book. If they see a smile and that their eyes are shining like stars, they know they made the friendliest choice. They send their thoughts to help the children in the story. When the issues are resolved, children share in wonder as Starabella’s special connection to the stars is revealed. Through the goodness inside her and her special connection to the stars, Starabella magically transforms into a Kindergarten Rock Star. Rising on a star-shaped stage, dressed all glittery, stars swirling around her, holding a microphone, she sings the rousing rock song, “Follow Me.” She leads her classmates and children listening to a Bright New World where “children play and get along and are accepted for exactly who they are.”

Starabella is a family project – a true labor of love. My daughter Tara, a pianist and composer who deals with the challenges of autism, used her beloved piano to express many of her thoughts and feelings through music. Often teased and isolated at school, Tara came home and played songs that reflected the childhood wonder of the world around her. She played musical interpretations of the seasons: “The Seasons Flow With Music;” the sights and sounds of the circus: “The Exciting Circus;” a song for her cat: “Kitten Kaboodle,” etc. Some of her songs included touching melodies with lyrics about a far more socially sensitive world than the world she had to face each day. For example, her songs, “Welcome to a Bright New World,” and “I Can Fly in a Dream Full of Happiness” imagined children playing together up in the clouds. These songs expressed her belief in the goodness in others. It was her dream that they would come together in a world in which all children were included and valued for who they are.

Tara’s dream became the inspiration for our family to produce the Starabella series. We wanted to bring Tara’s vision of social harmony expressed through her music to all children to help make her dream a reality. 17of the 22 songs and instrumentals in the series were written by Tara as a young child. She performed them on keyboard and piano for the audio portion of the books. Tara’s music represents the thoughts and feelings of the stories’ heroine, Starabella. The series is an example of siblings working together and combining their talents. Tara and her sister Dana, a talented singer, performed music together in their communities throughout their childhoods. For the Starabella series, Dana wrote additional music from the viewpoint of Starabella’s parents and teacher, narrated the stories, and sang the songs.

Tara’s experiences were not unique. Too many children face discrimination and/or bullying at school every day. Through the messages and examples in the books, children learn the benefits of making behavioral choices based on empathy and reaching out to include others to create sensitive social environments. It is our goal to teach children to accept and celebrate each other’s differences rather than excluding, fearing, and bullying those who seem “different.” The Starabella stories encourage them to listen to the good voice inside themselves rather than following the loudest, most threatening voice.

We have exhibited the Starabella books at many family outreach events and fairs hosted by NYC District 75 schools. The books have been bought by many parents for their children and I have donated many sets of the books to be used in classrooms.

The Starabella picture books are divided into chapters to accommodate individual attention spans. The audio-visual format appeals to various learning styles. Parents who have shared the books with their children, with and without special needs, report that the three books of the Starabella series are their child’s favorite books. I have received many letters from teachers who have used the books successfully in their classrooms. I have also been asked many times if our books are available for purchase through the DOE. We are asking for support to make that happen.

We are eager to make the books available to students in special needs, regular and combination education classrooms. There is diversity in all classrooms. If children become comfortable with differences at their earliest ages, negative thoughts can be prevented from escalating to destructive behaviors. The Starabella books help to actualize the goals of the NYC school policy, RESPECT FOR ALL.

Starabella has won multiple awards including a Nautilus award – a “major” award. ”The Nautilus Book Awards recognize and reward a group of world-changing, award winning books and celebrate how they contribute to positive social change, …”

Starabella fits into the category of SOCIAL and EMOTIONAL LEARNING (S.E.L.). S.E.L. is recognized as crucial for children to reach their full potential. Environments in which children they feel physically and emotionally safe and valued lays the foundation for them to concentrate and develop what is special inside them. S.E.L. forms the base for all types of learning, including academic learning.

The Starabella series addresses the goals of S.E.L. in some of the following ways:

SELF-AWARENESS – the stories show readers/listeners how Starabella learns to deal with her challenges and focus on her strengths and abilities. This leads to a positive sense of self.

SELF CONTROL – readers/listeners modify their impulsive responses by slowing down and learning to understand others through discussion of feelings motivated by the actions of the characters in the books.

SOCIAL AWARENESS – readers/listeners relate to and understand Starabella’s feelings through her music. They learn through Starabella and the other characters in the series that other children have feelings and experiences much like their own.

RELATIONSHIP SKILLS – by the examples of the characters in Book Three, children see what is gained by befriending others seemingly not like themselves.

RESPONSIBLE DECISION MAKING –seeing their reflections using a mirror to make social choices, readers/listeners are able to get in touch with their emotions. That enables them to monitor their own behaviors and make decisions on their own as opposed to being told what to do.

Starabella is a heroine for all children. The stories and music speak to anyone who has ever felt different for any reason, or who has treated someone else poorly for seeming different. If we can teach children at an early age to practice empathy and appreciate each other’s differences and abilities, they grow into adults who can achieve a better, more peaceful world.

Starabella speaks to the place in all children yearning for acceptance and understanding. Together, children can create the world of their dreams. So, “GET READY TO ROCK!” Starabella is leading the way. Follow her there – to a Bright New World.

Thank you for your interest in Starabella.

Sharon Fialco,

Author/Publisher

Fialco Productions, Inc.

Starabella narrated picture books with music

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.starabella.com

Get to Know the Fialco Family and Learn Why They Came Together to Produce the Starabella Narrated Musical Picture Books of Acceptance The Power of Song Sends Strength to Us All

How One Family’s Harmony is Teaching Social Sensitivity to the Youngest Kids One Word at a Time

*The following story is a reprint of a news story by Lorey Friedman

This is a story of hope, endurance and determination. A non- fictional tale of a family sustained by love, working together, united in harmony, producing beautiful music and using Gd’s challenges and special gifts in ways they never thought was imaginable. The distinguished, nominated, award winning, popular book series entitled Starabella (notice the name Tara in the middle) is a unique family project where mother, father and sisters use their individual talents to achieve one goal. Starabella mirrors the aspirations of the Fialco family of Forest Hills, NY which is for all people to achieve social sensitivity.

The Fialco Family

Forty one years ago, beautiful baby Tara was born to Sharon and Marvin Fialco. A vivacious, energetic child, Tara would later present perplexing challenges to her parents. Unable to get a diagnosis, they were left with a mystery. The Fialco’s became creative in overcoming obstacles, trying hard to mainstream their daughter into society. But, when Tara was six years old, her grandparents sent her a gift that would alter the family’s life forever. Arriving to their Honolulu Hawaii home was a piano. Tara took to the piano as if it were a part of her. She memorized the sound of every key and soon taught herself to play any music she heard by ear. She began to compose her own music. Through music she was able to express her thoughts and emotions and reflections on the world around her. The lyrics to her songs showed that she was philosophically precocious. Sharon and Marvin Fialco were lifted by the music to a place of joy where they experienced great pride and marveled not only at Tara’s ability but at the blessing of her gift.

The piano became Tara’s voice of her soul. As if dealing with her personal challenges wasn’t enough, she was forced to face insensitivity by other children. This and dealing with the rest of society pushed her into feelings of isolation. Despite the rejection and cruelness around her, Tara would play songs of hope that reflected her belief in the potential goodness in all people. She created a musical, magical world where all people got along and were accepted exactly the way they were. It is in her music that Tara’s genuine nature lies. She shares her vision of a better world to include all people.

Dana, Tara’s younger sister with tremendous abilities and talents of her own took an early interest in Tara’s circumstances and in her music. Dana began writing lyrics to Tara’s music and they would later perform extensively together in local communities. Rather than have their differences separate them, these two sisters were able to connect with their musical talents and shared ideals.

In 1993, Tara and Dana made their first recording of a song called “A New Beginning”. The song epitomizes Tara and Dana’s joint musical philosophy. When they recorded the song, they hoped to remind people that it is possible and necessary not only to reach each other, but also to gain a greater sense of personal fulfillment and self-realization. They wanted to inspire their listeners to make new beginnings personally, nationally and globally. These sentiments are just as meaningful today. In fact, Dana has recently recorded “A New Beginning” for re-release.

With tremendous determination and all her innate strength, Tara went on to earn a certificate in Early Childhood Education from Honolulu Community College. She put her degree to good use as she brings her musical message to children. Since Tara’s mother Sharon, had been Tara’s study buddy, she also informally received an education about child development. Thus, Sharon became inspired to write interactive, educational shows for children incorporating Tara’s music. Tara and her mother made props and scenery and together with guitar, keyboard and amplifier performed in classrooms filled with all types of children. In 1994, even before receiving Tara’s diagnosis of Autism and two years before their move to New York, the Starabella book series emerged from their observations of children at play where Tara performed. They noticed that anyone can become the object of ostracism. Combining Tara’s childhood dilemmas with those of other children, the stories cover a broad spectrum of personal and social situations children confront at home, in the community, and in school. The Starabella stories have been presented in many settings and continually revised to reflect current conditions.

The Starabella stories hope to encourage the trend of structuring programs to meet the various needs of individual students. If done correctly, all children benefit since being a member of a diverse learning environment prepares all children to feel comfortable in a multicultural, diverse world.

In Book One, children meet Starabella and follow her through babyhood and her early toddler years in the private world of her home. She is the focus of the attention of her family and they do all they can to meet her needs.

In Book Two, children follow Starabella as she ventures into the community, where there are demands for conformity and expectations for appropriate behaviors and following the rules. Just as Tara did, she has the supervision, support and guidance of her parents.

In Book Three, a major turning point occurs for readers and characters as Starabella enters the public arena of kindergarten, where children begin to make their own behavior choices and form their own rules. Children meet the wonderful character of a teacher named Miss Maradise who helps make rules that serve the needs of the whole.

Starabella and her classmates model the behavior of children who embrace diversity in their friendships and make empathetic social choices. They all work cooperatively to achieve their mutual goal of getting to a “Bright New World”, as Book Three of Starabella is appropriately named.

The entire Fialco family has been “in”volved and “in”cluded in this project that surely is one of the best live models of inclusion. Each family member contributed what they were best in and together used their strengths to achieve their goal. The Starabella project, from its earliest days of Tara and Dana’s childhood music to the CD’s and books being heard and read today, reflect and mirror that each of us has something useful to contribute. Starabella brings out the good in everyone.

These wonderful books that have and continue to be the heart and soul of the Fialco family enhance their life with special meaning and purpose. There is an important, necessary message emitted, not just for the children they are intended for. From these books, we can all learn the importance of creating a socially sensitive environment in the school or really any social setting. Learning institutions must be an emotionally and physically safe place for all, where every student is able to contribute. It is only in this type of culture that each pupil can prosper and reach his or her own goals. Not only will the child with special needs succeed. Indeed, showing all types of children diversity helps them to accept difference and live in a diverse world.

Each beautiful Starabella hardcover book comes with its own CD, captivating and fully narrated and sung by Dana, accompanied by Tara on keyboard. Amazing, vibrant illustrations by Anton Petrov with captions help the listener follow along with the story. CD recordings were produced by Joe Vulpis, AP Music Inc. Written by Sharon, narrated by Dana and based on the inspirational music by Tara, the message of both storybook and music strives to give people the courage to reach for their dreams.

The reader joins the Oclaif (Fialco spelled backwards) in their celebration and triumph over adversity. Pleasantly surprising to author Sharon, children without special learning needs are relating to and rooting for the character Starabella, showing indeed that all of us are filled with kindness and compassion. Starabella really does bring out the best in all of us.

Wondering about Dad? Well, without Marvin Fialco’s belief in the value of this project and the support and confidence he gave his family, the dream of his wife and daughters would not have become a reality. He provided counsel and feedback every step of the way. Yes, indeed, Dad was and is, a true partner in this family project.

The Fialco family hopes that children (and adults as well) everywhere will see how brilliantly their eyes will shine and how they become empowered when they have the courage to act on their own to reach out a hand to another child, or another person, and see that child, that individual reach out to another and on and on and on. These are the hands that can unite the world. Taken from lyrics of Tara and Dana’s music, “It’s only up to you.”

To order your copy of Book One, Book Two, Book Three, the complete Three Book Series please click here.

Welcome to a Bright New World Welcome to a bright new world – where all children play and get along and are accepted for exactly who they are. Welcome to a bright new world – where we all accept and celebrate each other’s differences rather than excluding, fearing, and bullying those who appear different. Welcome to a bright new world – where we learn at an early age to listen to the good voice inside ourselves rather than following the loudest, most threatening voice.

My name is Dana Fialco. This bright new world I speak of was the childhood dream of my sister, Tara. Faced with autism and gifted musically, Tara used her beloved piano to express many of her thoughts and feelings through music. Often teased and picked on at school, Tara came home and wrote magical, touching melodies and lyrics about a far more accepting world than the world she had to face each day. This is the dream that my mom, Sharon Fialco, captured when she wrote the Starabella series. Through three audio books on CD with music and accompanying magical illustrations, Starabella tells the story of a musically talented little girl with learning differences, whose eyes shine like stars when she is happy. Through the goodness inside her, her wonderful imagination, her special connection to the stars – and of course her music – Starabella becomes a kindergarten rock star who leads her classmates and listeners to the bright new world of her dreams. Children will want to sing, dance, dream, and imagine along with Starabella’s music.

Starabella is a family project, and a true labor of love. Tara and I were born in St. Louis, Missouri, but moved to Hawaii as very small children. Raised in the culturally diverse and creative community of Honolulu, much of Tara’s music was inspired by our beautiful natural surroundings. Our family presents an example of the inclusion we speak of in Starabella. Tara and I always had a special connection through music. Tara composed, played the piano, and sang, and I sang and wrote lyrics. We started performing together and writing songs together at an early age. My mom envisioned and produced the Starabella project and wrote the stories, based on my sister’s music and experiences. Tara composed 17 out of the 22 songs and melodies used in the series, many of which when she was a small child. I narrated the stories, played many of the characters, and I wrote some of the songs and lyrics as well. My Dad has been a support through the entire project, helping to make it all possible.

The three books of Starabella take our heroine through three different stages of her early growing up. In Book One, we see Starabella at home, where she is the star of her family. Her parents start to recognize and react to their daughter’s challenges and her unique abilities. In Book Two, we see Starabella venture out into the community, where she reacts to a world that asks her to conform. Her parents balance wanting to teach their daughter reasons for following the rules with wanting to make sure she continues to believe in herself. In Book Three, Starabella starts her first day of kindergarten. Starabella’s kindergarten class includes children from a variety of backgrounds, all with their own challenges and abilities.

As a young adult, Tara performed musical shows written by my mom for young children in Hawaii schools. Some of the scenarios presented in Book Three were based on true social dilemmas my mom observed in the schools where Tara performed. In the diverse world of Starabella’s classroom, the children learn lessons of empathy, and learn that when they make friendly choices, their eyes, like Starabella’s shine like stars. Children listening at home or at school are asked to make socially sensitive choices as well by using a “magical mirror” in the book. They send their choices to help the children in Starabella’s class.

Starabella, surrounded by starglow, is magically transformed into a kindergarten rock star and leads children everywhere to the bright new world “where children play and get along and are accepted for exactly who they are.” Starabella is a superheroine for all children. The stories and music speak to anyone who has ever felt different for any reason, or who has treated someone else poorly for seeming different.

If we can teach children at an early age to practice empathy and appreciate each other’s differences and abilities, they grow into adults who can achieve a better, more peaceful world. Please join our family in following Starabella there – to the bright new world where all our unique paths meet in harmony.

—Dana

Description by a Loving Sister
A little girl asked Dana to explain what autism is. Here is Dana’s answer: “I think a good way to explain autism might be to say that people with autism see the world a little differently. Sometimes their brains don’t process – or understand – information from the outside world in the same way as people without autism. Sometimes signals get confused in their minds. Because of that, it is not as easy for them to make friends, have conversations, or be social – but all the feelings they have inside are the same as everyone else’s. Because they can get frustrated at not understanding what is going on around them, sometimes they make noise or get scared and scream. Sometimes they also hear noises louder than other people or see lights brighter, and that can hurt them and be scary, too. Many people with autism also have great talents like music or painting or doing complicated math and science. Often they express their feelings (like Starabella) through their talent because they can’t always come up with the words. Some with the amazing skills in math and science use the different way they see the world to help make great scientific discoveries that help everyone. Even though it might be hard for them to make friends, they want to have friends like everyone else and they have a lot of love and beauty to give. Sometimes that means the rest of us have to find ways to help understand them and connect with them, just like those with autism are trying to find ways to communicate and connect with people who think in a more typical way.”

Dana Fialco Masters, multi-talented composer, singer and narrator of the Starabella audio-picture book series for children. Supportive and loving sister of Tara Fialco whose musical compositions provided the seed from which everyone else’s creativity grew. The Starabella stories are based on Tara’s music and vision of a Bright New World.

Thank you, Dana. We love you, Mom and Dad

Welcome to a bright new world – where all children play and get along and are accepted for exactly who they are. Welcome to a bright new world – where we all accept and celebrate each other’s differences rather than excluding, fearing, and bullying those who appear different. Welcome to a bright new world – where we learn at an early age to listen to the good voice inside ourselves rather than following the loudest, most threatening voice.

My name is Dana Fialco. This bright new world I speak of was the childhood dream of my sister, Tara. Faced with autism and gifted musically, Tara used her beloved piano to express many of her thoughts and feelings through music. Often teased and picked on at school, Tara came home and wrote magical, touching melodies and lyrics about a far more accepting world than the world she had to face each day.

This is the dream that my mom, Sharon Fialco, captured when she wrote the Starabella series. Through three audio books on CD with music and accompanying magical illustrations, Starabella tells the story of a musically talented little girl with learning differences, whose eyes shine like stars when she is happy. Through the goodness inside her, her wonderful imagination, her special connection to the stars – and of course her music – Starabella becomes a kindergarten rock star who leads her classmates and listeners to the bright new world of her dreams. Children will want to sing, dance, dream, and imagine along with Starabella’s music.

Starabella is a family project, and a true labor of love. Tara and I were born in St. Louis, Missouri, but moved to Hawaii as very small children. Raised in the culturally diverse and creative community of Honolulu, much of Tara’s music was inspired by our beautiful natural surroundings. Our family presents an example of the inclusion we speak of in Starabella. Tara and I always had a special connection through music. Tara composed, played the piano, and sang, and I sang and wrote lyrics. We started performing together and writing songs together at an early age. My mom envisioned and produced the Starabella project and wrote the stories, based on my sister’s music and experiences. Tara composed 17 out of the 22 songs and melodies used in the series, many of which when she was a small child. I narrated the stories, played many of the characters, and I wrote some of the songs and lyrics as well. My Dad has been a support through the entire project, helping to make it all possible.

The three books of Starabella take our heroine through three different stages of her early growing up. In Book One, we see Starabella at home, where she is the star of her family. Her parents start to recognize and react to their daughter’s challenges and her unique abilities. In Book Two, we see Starabella venture out into the community, where she reacts to a world that asks her to conform. Her parents balance wanting to teach their daughter reasons for following the rules with wanting to make sure she continues to believe in herself. In Book Three, Starabella starts her first day of kindergarten. Starabella’s kindergarten class includes children from a variety of backgrounds, all with their own challenges and abilities.

As an adult, Tara performed musical shows written by my mom for young children in Hawaii preschools, kindergarten classrooms, after school and day care programs. Later, in New York, our current home, Tara performed the stories in various educational venues. Some of the scenarios presented in Book Three were based on true social dilemmas my mom observed in the venues where Tara performed. In the diverse world of Starabella’s classroom, the children learn lessons of empathy, and learn that when they make friendly choices, their eyes, like Starabella’s shine like stars. Children listening at home or at school are asked to make socially sensitive choices as well by using a “magical mirror” in the book. They send their choices to help the children in Starabella’s class. Starabella, surrounded by starglow, is magically transformed into a kindergarten rock star and leads children everywhere to the bright new world of friendliness and acceptance “where children play and get along and are accepted for exactly who they are.”

Starabella is a superheroine for all children. The stories and music speak to anyone who has ever felt different for any reason, or who has treated someone else poorly for seeming different. The Starabella stories speak directly to the place in all children yearning for acceptance and understanding. If we can teach children at an early age to practice empathy and appreciate each other’s differences and abilities, they grow into adults who can achieve a better, more peaceful world. Please join our family in following Starabella there – to the bright new world where all our unique paths meet in harmony.

Dana Fialco Masters
Vocalist/Composer/Lyricist/Narrator/Associate

Every day the world is alerted to the threat of terrorism either from foreign countries or from more rare homegrown terrorists. In the United States, these threats, though frightening, hold the promise of being deterred because of protection by law enforcement provided by our government. As citizens, our right to protection is taken for granted. But this is not so for many kids at school.

We are all familiar with the many news reports and personal blog posts by parents that tell of horrific experiences of children at school who endure ongoing severe physical and emotional torture at the hand of a classmate or classmates while other students watched. In these cases there was no restraint or preventative measures by school officials. These children were assaulted because of a variety of reasons causing them to be perceived as “different.” Since all children enter the public arena of school with differences, it means that any child can be the next victim of unprovoked harassment.

As citizens of a democratic society, how would we feel if we were assaulted in our community or workplace, with witnesses watching, some encouraging the behavior, to find that there were no rules in place to outlaw this behavior? Or if there were laws, those in charge of implementing them turned their backs on you, thereby protecting the aggressor? And to know that you would be the victim of this terror every day as you go through your required daily routine?

The experiences of these children cry out that schools must make it their responsibility to implement programs to prevent and end bullying. How can children learn in lawless environments where they are scared to walk down a hallway, eat lunch in the cafeteria, or enter the playground? How can children maintain the spirit and effort to learn if their self-esteem is diminished on a daily basis?

As parents, how helpless we feel not to have control over what is happening to our children at school. Parents can take charge by establishing communication with school administrators and teachers. They must demand that administrators and teachers take responsibility to establish rules of behavior, pay attention to what is going on, and respond powerfully to unacceptable behaviors.

There are excellent programs available to schools for helping children become comfortable with differences. When modeled properly by teachers, children are receptive to accepting and celebrating each other’s differences rather than excluding, fearing, and bullying those who appear different. These positive attitudes should be encouraged in the earliest grades before negative thoughts set in which can later lead to destructive behaviors.

Since bullying does not go away by itself, children must be taught skills to resolve social conflict. They can be taught to cooperate together to come up with multiple solutions to resolve conflict. All children should feel emotionally and physically safe as valued members of their classrooms. Teachers setting up classroom environments with rules based on shared values of proper social behaviors prepares children to grow into responsible adults.

Sharon Fialco

Author/Starabella Audio-Musical-Picture Book Series of social sensitivity

For children ages 2-8

Miss Maradise, classroom teacher in Book three of the Starabella series says: “Our classroom is like a big family. When someone in our family isn’t happy, no one is as happy as they can be.”

www.starabella.com

We, at Starabella & Co. are very proud to share this blog written about Starabella by Lou Melgarejo, a fellow parent, who writes one of the best blogs for parents and children dealing with autism. Do yourself a favor and join him at lous-land.blogspot.com/. You will be entertained, brought to tears, rise with him above adversity, and be informed. You will find in Lou a warm kindred spirit.

Starabella Shines Bright!

Not long after I put out “Fixing” Autism I read a comment from a woman by the name of Sharon Fialco saying that they too had a child on the spectrum and that her daughter was very musical. In fact her daughter was a pianist and composer. Together with her family they put together a trilogy of books complete with musical accompaniment. The comment was very warm and touching. Sharon went on to say that she was so moved by my video that she wanted to send me a copy of the books as a sign of appreciation for my video.

I was taken back and a little leery of just giving out my home address, but the gesture seemed genuine and a quick Google search made me rest a little easier as I looked over their website and read some more on the Fialco family.

I didn’t just receive a book. I received BOOKS… three of them. Also included was a soundtrack CD. They are visually stunning. Very kid appealing. I decided that I would go through all the materials and then thank Sharon for her extremely kind gesture. Unfortunately, things got so crazy right after the video that I received the books and then put them on top of my son’s armoire where I knew they would be safe… and then forgot about them.

I was putting away clothes the other day when I saw the edge of the book. I had one of those groaning moments where you just can’t believe how impolite, rude, insensitive and thoughtless you have been. So once I remembered them, I went through them right away.

Now just as Sharon was so kind to send me these books unsolicited, I would like to tell you about these books. I am not being paid, I wasn’t asked to review them in any way. If they were not worthwhile or did not have any sort of redeeming quality, I can assure you I would just send Sharon a thank you email and be grateful for the gesture. But let me tell you, that is far from the case. These books are nothing short of magical.

If the books aren’t magical on their own, the story behind these books is even more so. Starabella was a family project put together by the Fialco family and based on their own family dynamic. Their daughter Tara Fialco is a pianist and composer who is on the spectrum. She also holds a certificate in Early Childhood Education from Honolulu Community College. Through her gift of music, Tara creates a world that teaches lessons of understanding and acceptance that are so desperately needed today. There is also a beauty in the way the books do not shy away from the challenges that face Starabella and the concern that her parents have for her well-being.

(From L to R) Sharon, Tara, Dana and Marvin Fialco

Starabella is the main character; a whimsical and mysterious girl who at a young age starts to lose her speech but discovers a remarkable talent and outlet… music. Clearly modeled after Tara Fialco, Starabella begins to engage again as the gift of a piano helps to pull her out of her shell. The project was directed by Sharon Fialco but the whole family goes to bat as father Marvin Fialco helped with publishing and Dana lends her beautiful voice not only serving as the narrator, but as the vocalist in many of the songs and also serving as a composer.

Each book is absolutely beautiful with colorful and vibrant illustration by Anton Petrov. Heightening the experience for your little one, included with each book is a companion CD. The CD contains narration (the CD story goes into greater detail than the printed story in the book) and music that are sure to help your little ones become immersed in the world of Starabella. The Soundtrack CD has all the songs from the series and can be easily transferred to your iTunes for easy portability.

If you are looking for a book that will teach your child important life lessons, I highly recommend the Starabella series. A great book for siblings or young family members of children on the spectrum, Starabella will show that while people may be different than them, they are still worthy of and receive love, friendship and understanding.

You can purchase the Starabella books at https://starabella.com/ and 10% of sales go towards Autism Speaks. You can also become a fan of Starabella on Facebook.

Thank you again to the Fialco family for such a wonderful gift. Not just the the physical gift of the books and CD, but for creating such a wonderful story that is rich and educating.

If you have not already, please take time to watch my video, “Fixing” Autism and share it with your friends.

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Labels: ASD, autism, autism speaks, autistic, Dana Fialco, empathy, family, fatherhood, fixing autism, kids, lou, lous land, parenthood, parenting, Sharon Fialco, special needs, spectrum disorder, Starabella, Tara Fialco

2 comments:

Renee McAfee said…

These books sound incredible! Thanks for the information. It was very insightful.

What an incredible story, of this young woman’s journey, as well as all the family who helped her with this project! Such an amazing story!

I will share this book series with other parents! Good Read!!! 🙂

Danii said…

It’s always great to read success stories about person on spectrum. Great info!